Questions to Ask When Hiring an Appraiser 1. What qualifies you to appraise this object? Appraising personal property is an unregulated profession which leaves the consumer with the burden of determining whether the appraiser they engage is qualified. A qualified appraiser is knowledgeable about the object being appraised and trained in appraisal theory, the principals […]
What to Know When Donating Art

What to Know When Donating Art In today’s collecting marketplace, many high net worth individuals (HNWIs) are building large and, in some cases, important art collections. They will often make donations from their collections to museums and other organizations, either as charitable gifts or under a certification as cultural property. The process for this certification […]
Appraisal, Canada, Donating Art, Financial Planning, HNWI, International Society of Appraisers, ValuationAre Your Appraiser’s Credentials Real?

Are Your Appraiser’s Credentials Real? Recently, ISA appraisers and their clients have noticed numerous advertisements and promotional material from other personal property appraisers who may have completed a Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course and describe themselves as a “USPAP Certified Appraiser.” Others may deem their appraisal reports “USPAP Certified Appraisals.” Both of […]
American Society of Appraisers, Appraisals, Appraisers Association of America, International Society of Appraisers, The Appraisal Foundation, USPAPAnother Tax-Shelter Scheme Bites the Dust

I noted a year-end news item last week that will be of interest to those involved with donation appraisals, and familiar with the ongoing battles between the Canada Revenue Agency and those seeking to avoid taxes through various tax-sheltering donation schemes. To date, the CRA has denied more than 5.9 billion dollars in donation claims […]
Identifying Art and Decorative Objects On Your Own

“I’ve been left me some artwork and I don’t know what it is or if it is worth anything.” Almost every day someone calls my office and says something similar. Usually the person doesn’t know if what they have is a painting, a print, or a reproduction, and often the signature is difficult to decipher. […]
Appraisal, Art Identification, Collections, International Society of Appraisers, Personal Property, ValuationBe the Best Appraiser

To be the best appraiser, you’ve got to do the work. Many years ago, a golf instructor said to me, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes permanent. “Though stated in the context of a sport, this statement has a lot of validity for appraisers. Recently, I completed my five year re-qualification course through the ISA […]
Appraisal, Hughene Acheson, International Society of Appraisers, Qualified AppraiserIs There a Charge for That?

“Hello, I have a painting that I would like to have appraised. Is there a charge for that?” The telephone caller who asked me this question last week, was not the first, nor was he likely to be the last. In pondering how to politely respond to this question, I asked myself, why would my […]
Behind the Headlines

London Sale Sets World Record for Picasso Ceramics June 21, 2013: A ceramic vase by Pablo Picasso, which has sold for a new world record price of almost £1 million for ceramics by the artist at a Christie’s sale (photo from Christies). PABLO PICASSO (Spanish, 1881-1973) Large Vase with Veiled Women (Grand Vase aux […]
What Do Qualified Appraisers Do?

What makes an appraiser qualified? A qualified appraiser is a professional who has demonstrated competency in valuing the type of object to be appraised, who has the education, knowledge and experience required to accurately appraise an object, and who is working to the highest level of appraisal standards, practices and code of ethics. A Certified […]
Doing Your Own Valuation Research

Is it time to call an appraiser? Sometimes you just want to do a little of your own sleuthing, to see what you can find out without spending any money on a qualified fine art appraiser. I know. It’s human nature. In the same way as we like to diagnose ourselves “online” before we go […]
Appraisals, auction, cataloguing, fine art, International Society of Appraisers, prints, research