Thrift Store Art

[DomAdd]

Not really a find, but a question. What am I missing here. At every thrift store I visit, ALL of the artwork (paintings, etchings, drawings, etc) that has any paper backing on it is always tore to shreds. Is it that every piece of art is mishandled before being put on to the floor ( I doubt it), or is there something that everyone looks for that requires folks to be destructive and rip the paper off the back of the artwork? I wouldn't be asking this question if it were just a few items here and there, but I don't think I have ever seen an intact paper on the back of a painting at a thrift store and I've looked at tons of them. Wondering if this is common to also do at garage sales and is acceptable...... I need all the help I can get when it comes to new tips and tricks lol.

 

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[buzzhead]

I'd say they were all looking for the elusive gold bar/stack of cash behind the picture.

 

[Keppy]

Yes people will destroy things of others if they think they might find something of value … They could care less about other peoples property ..

 

[colorado14ers]

if its at a thrift shop, its not technically anyones property (other than the store) however, at a garage sale it is still their property and if you did tear apart the back without buying it they might have a bit of an issue

 

[Drmad7]

It is a VERY irritating thing that folks do. I watched a guy grab four prints off the walls, put them in his cart, go to the furniture section, look through his smartphone for info, proceed to tear off the paper on the back of each one…and then on my third trip past him(as I was grabbing the less obvious treasures in the store) saw him place all of the painting on the floor in the furniture section and leave. I have no problem with folks grabbing thing to look up online(I have done this discreetly when I was unsure of an item) but to damage an item you don't own is unacceptable. But then, I grew up in the 70s and 80s when stores had signs posted "If You Break It, You Bought It!".

 

[keith2004]

paper backing says -modern mass produced junk- to me.maybe thier tearing it open to see what size staples the machine used to mount the print?

 

[dumpsterdiver]

I don't even think its so much about looking at the painting. If you don't have a good idea from the front of the painting your probably not going to be doing appraisals on the roadshow anytime soon. I think its one of those rumors that people hide cash behind paintings. That has gotten out of control.

 

[diggummup]

Maybe they are looking for an original copy of the Declaration of Independence! Or maybe they saw that episode of Auction Hunters where they found cash in the back of a picture. lol