AI Appraisal Estimate

This item is a spiral-bound artist's sketchbook featuring two side-by-side original drawings executed in blue crayon or soft pastel, attributed to Jean Larry. The left-hand page depicts a surreal composition featuring a large bottle at a diagonal angle containing a face, with liquid droplets falling toward a stylized human figure below. It includes a visible signature 'Jean Larry' in the lower right quadrant. The right-hand page presents a more abstract, geometric study of curved tubular forms and a muscular arm-like shape, utilizing varying pressures of blue pigment to create depth and texture. The paper shows signs of age with some yellowing and soft creasing at the edges. The drawings exhibit a raw, expressive style characteristic of mid-to-late 20th-century figurative abstraction. Based on the accompanying T-square for scale, each page measures approximately 9 to 10 inches in width. The spiral binding remains intact, suggesting these are original studies directly from the artist’s personal collection or process work. The blue monochromatic palette suggests a cohesive thematic exploration or a specific series of conceptual sketches.

I have examined the digital images of the two blue crayon/pastel sketches attributed to Jean Larry. The works demonstrate the artist's characteristic mid-century figurative abstraction and expressive linework. The left-hand composition, featuring a surreal figure and signature, is the primary value driver, while the right-hand geometric study provides valuable insight into the artist's process. The condition appears fair to good; there is evident age-toning and minor creasing commensurate with a working sketchbook, which collectors of 'process art' often find acceptable as it reinforces authenticity. The market for mid-century modern sketches remains stable, with demand driven by interior designers and niche collectors of 20th-century paper works. Comparable sales for single-sheet original studies by similar contemporary artists typically range from $200 to $400 per page; however, the intact spiral binding adds a premium by preserving the provenance of the series. Limitations: This valuation is based solely on digital images. A definitive attribution cannot be made without a physical inspection. Critical factors such as the exact texture of the pigment (to distinguish between wax crayon and oil pastel), the watermark of the paper, and the presence of any foxing or acidic degradation cannot be fully assessed here. For a full authentication, I recommend cross-referencing these sketches with Jean Larry’s catalog raisonné and obtaining provenance documentation linking the sketchbook to the artist's estate. Scientific testing of the pigment's chemical composition could further verify the period of production if significant discrepancy is suspected.