Secondary Market
The Secondary Market refers to the resale of artwork after its first sale from the original source. It's like a pre-owned car market, but for art. When artwork is first sold by galleries or directly from artists, that's the primary market. Everything after that - whether through auction houses, art dealers, or private sales - is considered the secondary market. This is where most art appraisers and dealers work, helping determine values and authenticating pieces that are being resold.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Secondary Market sales exceeding $2M annually at premier auction house
Conducted Secondary Market valuations for estate collections and insurance purposes
Developed pricing strategies for Secondary Market artworks based on market trends
Typical job title: "Secondary Market Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Secondary Market Specialists
Professional Organizations
Industry Resources
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the authenticity and value of an artwork in the secondary market?
Expected Answer: A senior specialist should discuss the importance of provenance research, condition reports, market analysis, comparable sales data, and authentication processes. They should mention working with experts and technical analysis when needed.
Q: How do you handle complex estate valuations with multiple pieces?
Expected Answer: Should explain their approach to organizing large collections, research methods, market analysis across different art categories, and how they manage client relationships while ensuring accurate valuations.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors influence artwork values in the secondary market?
Expected Answer: Should discuss artist reputation, condition, provenance, size, subject matter, market trends, recent comparable sales, and how these factors interact to determine value.
Q: How do you research artwork history and provenance?
Expected Answer: Should explain their research methodology, including using auction databases, gallery records, artist catalogues raisonnés, and working with archives and experts.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's the difference between primary and secondary art markets?
Expected Answer: Should explain that primary market is first-time sales from artists or galleries, while secondary market involves resale of previously owned artwork through auctions, dealers, or private sales.
Q: What resources do you use to track art market prices?
Expected Answer: Should mention common pricing databases, auction results, gallery reports, and art market publications used to research artwork values.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of art history
- Familiarity with price databases
- Basic condition reporting
- Understanding of market terminology
Mid (2-5 years)
- Detailed market analysis
- Provenance research
- Client relationship management
- Value assessments for insurance
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex artwork authentication
- Estate valuation
- Expert witness testimony
- Market trend forecasting
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of major auction houses or gallery systems
- Unfamiliarity with standard art market databases
- Lack of understanding about provenance importance
- No experience with condition reporting
