Contents Claims Solved: The Case of the Damaged Ocean Scene

An insured believed he owned “Ocean Scene,” a 60-inch by 40-inch original oil painting on canvas by Israeli artist Avi Fieler. The painting had sustained water damage and was being claimed as a total loss, with a claimed value of $25,000. The adjuster on the case called on contents claims specialists to evaluate the extent of the damage and determine the current replacement value of the painting.  

Case Background 

Contents specialists determined the original “Ocean Scene” was oil on board. The insured's art appeared identical to, and of the same size as, the original, but was oil on canvas. Upon further investigation, contents experts discovered that the insured's piece was in fact a gicleé, a high-tech print created using technology similar to an inkjet printer, where oil paint is sprayed onto a canvas.  

The contents team contacted the artist in Israel. He stated that he knew the collector who owned the original “Ocean Scene,” a painting on board.  The artist also said that he had produced 50 gicleés of the work. He offered to sell the insured a replacement gicleé for $2,000. 

To see what happened, click “next.” 

The Result

In the end, contents experts determined that the painting was not a total loss despite the water damage. Restoring the art to pre-loss condition would cost $800 and result in no diminution of value. The $25,000 claim was evaluated actually to be an $800 restoration, with any possible discussion of replacement limited to $2,000.