Vincent Price & The Sears Art Collection
Gallery Paintings for Sale from Sears
It was a surprise to us to learn that on October 6th, 1962, Sears unveiled an offering of original works of art for sale at its store in Denver, Colorado. Sears had commissioned famous actor and art collector, Vincent Price, to assemble a collection of art and gallery paintings that would be merchandised through its stores, making fine art more accessible to all Sears’ customers. They gave Price carte blanche to travel the world to put the collection together. After that first opening in Denver, the program was broadened with exhibits of art in ten additional Sears stores and after the first 1,500 pieces of art has been sold, it was expanded nationwide to all Sears stores. The program ended in 1971, but more than 50,000 original artworks had been sold during its time.
The Vincent Price Collection, as it was called, included gallery paintings and other works by Rembrandt, Chagall, Picasso, Whistler and many contemporary artists of the day. It included a watercolor by Andrew Wyeth and a painting by Salvador Dali commissioned by Price.
Each work of art offered by Sears was guaranteed under a Sears warranty as “an original work of quality”. Prices ranged from as little at $10 to $3,000 with an installment plan available offering payments as low as $5 a month. Special Sears catalogs in 1963 and 1964 included works from the collection.
An informational video was made by Vincent Price for Sears to help their sales associates learn more about the artworks they would be selling. In it Price says that he believes that, “Art belongs to everyone,” and that “reproductions have a great place in the home. They teach and they satisfy a need for decoration. But, there’s no excitement in the world like the excitement of owning an original work of art.”
He continues, “Art is the visual experience of man—made exciting by talent, and the talent belongs to that rarest of all individuals—the artist . . . It is not done by strange fellows with long hair who live in attics and wear berets. It is done by extremely disciplined human beings who are trying to allow you, (as people, untalented people, like myself), trying to allow them to see through their eyes the visual beauty of this world.”
We were amazed at one of the more expensive offerings of 1962—a Rembrandt etching titled Angels Appearing to Shepherds. It was certified to have been created in Rembrandt’s studio during his lifetime (1606-1669) and was priced at $900!
We would enjoy hearing from any of you who may remember having seen the original artworks in your local Sears store.
We hope that you will join us on The Artist’s Road for more interesting articles, interviews with top artists, step-by-step demonstrations and discounts in the unique Artist’s Road Store.
–Ann and John
We just came across this one from the Vincent Price Collection. Any thoughts on Zwy Milshtein’s work?
More detail
Here is one of the backs. They all 3 are basically the same they just have different collection numbers.
We inherited 3 Engraved Wood Blocks from the Vincent Price Collection. Does anyone have any information about them and what they would be valued at now?
Have you gotten a response yet about the picture yet? I have a couple that we found when we bought a property in an old timey southern store that was wall-to-wall stuff. I really like these so I kept them. I wanted to ad a couple more for a wall In our new home. I have been looking some different images than the ones I already have. I did figure out that they came from seers a long time ago but that’s all I know, I would love to know if you found a value, also if you have if you’d like to sell them?
I was born in 1962 and grew up with a Picasso print on the family living room wall. My mother was a huge fan of Vincent Price but we did not know that the Picasso and Vincent were in any way related until my mother died in 1980. On the back of the framed print was a Sears receipt that Vincent Price himself autographed. We learned from a family friend that some time around 1962/1963 Vincent Price was appearing in person at a nearby Sears store promoting his art collection there. My mother went to meet him in person, bought the Picasso for $250.00 and had Price autograph the receipt. My sister brought the print and receipt to The William Doyle Gallery in NYC to be appraised. She learned that the print was a common one and wasn’t worth much. I believe $800.00 but the receipt autographed by Price was an oddity. He knew of no other time Price autographed a Sears art receipt. He offered my sister $2000 for just the receipt, saying he didn’t know if it even had a value at all, but he wanted it for himself. She sold the receipt and went home with the print. When my sister died in 2006 I ended up with the print, which has not been appraised since that day in the early 1980’s — it is no longer in a frame, and has been rolled, stored in a tube for 20 years or more. As I understand it, the print is worth less without the providence (the receipt in this case) but while I don’t have it on display, I wouldn’t sell it since it is so much a part of my childhood and my family history.
Would anyone have info on
Looking for information on a painting I found 16x 20 signed Willie. Back of the painting signed Willie Reed 5/1966. Marked Sears and roebuck, Vincent price.
I found a Vincent Price piece at Goodwill for $5. Curious about its value. It’s from The Vincent Price Collection.
Number: GMM 48825
Artist: David Walsh
Title: La Pudenca
I would greatly appreciate your thoughts,
Kathleen