Our Appraisal Services
Thanka (painting) / Tibet / Majusri, a bodhisattva associated transcendent wisdom in
Mahayana Buddhism / 14th Century CE / Pigment on silk / 14.75-h x 8.74-w in. |
How can you make sure to get a proper appraisal? Well, the answer starts with hiring the right appraiser. Fortunately, it's easier than you might think. Ask three quick questions: Is your prospect a member of a national organization, e.g., Appraisers Association of America? These organizations require their members to know and practice certain standards. (The IRS likes your appraiser to say 'yes' to this question, too) Is your prospect 'USPAP-compliant'? This means he or she has passed the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraiser Practice exam and continues to take courses to stay up-to-date. (The IRS likes a 'yes' here, too.) Third: Does your prospect have experience appraising your object or objects? If you get a 'yes' to each of these questions, you're on the right track. Of course, there are some other things to consider. |
| A good art appraiser should be able to wear three hats at once: detective, market analyst and art connoisseur. This means your prospect is -- on a continuing bases -- studying art, art history and the art marketplace. It means your prospect is attending lectures and symposia. Reading scholarly works. Attending museum and gallery exhibition. Visiting artist studios. Meeting with art dealers and auction specialists. Traveling to historic sites and international art fairs. This also means your prospect understands and practices a methodology -- and abides by certain practices (see the second question above on USPAP). It means your prospect knows how to examine an object, research its history, analyze the marketplace -- and ultimately, how to arrive at a monetary value that reflects the essential material facts of an object -- its condition, provenance, origin, workmanship, size, material and market interest. With full disclosure to you, the client. This is also called 'due diligence.' We think this is what describes the appraisers at MICHAEL COHN FINE ART CONSULTANTS. |
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