The Personal Property Appraisers Post

By Daphne Lange Rosenzweig, Ph.D, ISA CAPP 

There have been several very interesting blogsite articles on European/American furniture styles. In a future note, I will discuss a variety of websites useful for appraisals of Chinese furniture but I wanted to note here very briefly a website sales venue that has several sections which could be invaluable aids for “comps” when appraising modern Chinese furniture. The current information posted (announcing a 50% off sale period) on this site may disappear at any time, so printing it out as a resource is recommended.

You can get to it via several routes: http://www.easterncurio.com, or http://www.chineart.com or http://www.antiquesbeijing.com. The main website is the Eastern Curio one and there are “sub-sites” posted there. All are from factories located on mainland China.

In the D1 series section (Antiques Beijing), there are many modern reproduction furniture forms of the “home decoration” type we so often encounter – the armoires, the bedside chests, etc.; the D2 Series has oriental hardware (the brass fittings for wood and lacquer furniture). The D3 Series has mother-of-pearl screens and other furniture, and then D7 illustrates other types of inlaid screens and the large gilded screens and wall art of the type we all see in appraisals. The sites give dimensions and selling price, and generic descriptions of materials. Caution should be taken with the descriptions of the materials, since the Chinese definitions and the definitions accepted in the West often differ.

Daphne Lange Rosenzweig, Ph.D, ISA CAPP

The following is an offer of 6 month free membership with our friends at PBAA. The free membership and listing offer expires on December 31, 2009, so make sure you get your application completed and submitted.

Palm Beach Appraisers Association is much more than an appraiser referral site. PBAA strives to bring the quality and prestige of Palm Beach to independent appraisers, consultants, estate liquidators, auctioneers, and dealers worldwide.

The mission of PBAA is to connect private collectors, appraisers, and dealers to parties that will best suit their needs. We understand that convenience, along with high standards, is of great importance. PBAA has members throughout the world, specializing in fine antiques, jewelry, currency, fine automotive industries, luxury estates, luxury accommodations and more.

Follow the links at the end of the PBAA press release.

The PBAA states.

Palm Beach Appraisers Association announcement to all that fit the categories. Quality Auctions, Automotive Industries, Galleries, Jewelers, Dealer Appraisers, Independent Appraisers, Luxury Accommodations, Restoration Experts, Direct link to you, holiday gift, from PBAA "FREE NO COST LISTING" worldwide language translation 6 months, fill in our join page and submit. Quality website necessary and must qualify and be approved. Expires 12/31/09
under no contract to renew.

PBAA provides a service with links to many fine companies around the world, partner pages, supporters, affiliates, members, the companies PBAA will list must be known in the industries providing the consumers as well as the trade.

Palm Beach Appraisers Association must provide website links that will have high standards in providing the services offered.
As you can see on their home page sponsor links as well as affiliates also hold the PBAA link as well as some of the members. knowing all posted can be trusted and will handle clients with the highest degree of care, this is all they ask from their members.

The extensive background of PBAA members offer myriad opportunities for the public to receive precise and accurate appraisals of their most valuable possessions. PBAA members will work with you with the highest level of confidence and capabilities.

PBAA offers you committed professionals in the industry with superior knowledge of high-end property claims. They have full-time specialists, staff experts and a comprehensive network of consultants with extensive credentials and years of experience in fine arts, antiques, coins/currency, jewelry and precious stones, collectibles, interior decoration, oriental rugs, couture clothing, wine collections, fine automobiles and high end real estate.

The extensive background of PBAA members offer myriad opportunities for the public to receive precise and accurate appraisals of their most valuable possessions. PBAA members will work with you with the highest level of confidence and capabilities.

PBAA is proud to provide stature in the appraisal community. PBAA contributes significantly to the growth of our sponsors and quality members by directing consumers to members with exact specifications. Consumers also have the confidence of working with a Palm Beach Appraisers Association certified member. The potential for Palm Beach Appraisers Association is outstanding.

Chris Hayes Pbaa CEO says, they are honored to have such a fine group of friends with us at Palm Beach Appraisers Association, our entire staff would like to thank you for all of your support and the thousands of hits to our website each day, please have the greatest enjoyment ever in this holiday season. Galleries, auctions, appraisers join us now, post PBAA in your favorites for future information. New sister website coming soon posted on our affiliate page..
--
Palm Beach Appraisers Association
http://www.palmbeachappraisersassociation.org/
Click HERE for free 6 month membership

The free "ACA Appraiser's Update" e-newsletter is published by Appraisal Course Associates partners certified appraiser, author and instructor Dave Maloney and AQB-certified National USPAP course instructor Bill Novotny.

The current December, 2009 edition contains:

• IRS Definitions of "Qualified Appraiser" and "Qualified Appraisal" Continue to Evolve
• USPAP Changes for 2010-2011
• Report Credibility Requires USPAP Compliance
• All-new 3rd Edition of Unique How-to Book for the Personal Property Appraiser
• USPAP Q & A - Due Process of Law
• Form 8283 Source of Identity Theft?

If you did not receive a copy, you are welcome to check it out at http://bit.ly/ACA10.

While there, be sure to sign up for future ACA Appraiser Update e-newsletters.

---

Hot off the newswire: (Dec. 4, 2009) The House voted yesterday to permanently extend a 45 percent inheritance tax on estates larger than $3.5 million, canceling a one-year repeal of the tax set to begin next month. http://bit.ly/6XpiBO

It is possible to be more environmentally responsible, save money, and provide a high level of service to your clients by providing secure online access for your clients to the appraisal reports.

Meet Gene Ruelle, an accredited senior appraiser in the ASA with his specialty in antique furniture. Gene is from Tyler Texas with over 15 years experience appraising personal property. Gene has created a secure online web site where his valued clients can securely access their appraisal reports for up to five years. The result is saving of money by eliminating the paper, postage, ink and toner from the report creation and delivery process.

How does this work?
Gene now saves every report as a PDF file. This PDF file is a complete report including the cover documentation, electronic signature, and all disclaimers and USPAP information. Once created, Gene uploads the appraisal report files to his secure online document storage system. Clients are then notified via email that the report is available and are sent a link and their login information to access the report online.

Clients click the link and enter their login information to access the secure site. Once logged-in, the client is presented with a list of their appraisal reports, and other documents created specifically for them. The client can then click on a link and display, download, or print the appraisal reports.

Benefits
• Save money on toner, ink, paper, and postage
• The report is available for the client 24 x 7 x 365 with no intervention from the appraiser
• Report is stored on a secure website not a PC making the USPAP record keeping requirements much easier to adhere to
• Report is delivered to the client much faster than postal or courier
• Clients come to the branded site to access the report and they see your name and branding each time

Feedback from selected attorney clients is fantastic. They love the instant access to the information and ability to access the reports from anywhere with an internet connection.

See a Sample of how this Works
Here you can see a sample report and what the client experiences when using this unique service. Feel free to log in and check it out.
(Note: the reports on this site are sample reports only)

Visit http://secure.ruelle.com
Login – appraiser
Password – doyourbest

Feedback
Please comment and let me know what you think about this method of report delivery. Is this something you think is valuable, or not to your appraising practice?

Resources in this Blog
Gene Reulle
Ruelle’s
http://www.ruelle.com/
gene@ruelle.com

About the Author
Brian Hiatt
bhiatt@collectorpro.com
www.collectorpro.com

The International Society of Appraisers would like to invite you to participate as a sponsor of our annual conference, Assets 2010, taking place April 30 – May 3, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario.

A variety of sponsorship options are available, from advertising in the final program, to sponsorship packages inclusive of multiple benefits and advertising opportunities. For full details on sponsorship packages available to you, download our Sponsorship Guide.

ISA is a not-for-profit organization whose members are some of the most respected independent appraisers, consultants, estate liquidators, auctioneers, gallery owners, and dealers in the United States and Canada. Join ISA in Toronto this spring to reach your audience.

For more information regarding sponsorship and advertising, please contact ISA Headquarters.

phone: 312.981.6778
email: isa@isa-appraisers.org

The following comment was posted in regard to Appraisers Post contributor Jerry Sampson's post on looted property. I found it important enough to move from the comments section on a post page to the main blog posting area.

Click HERE to read the original post. The comment comes from Robert Edsel, founder of the Monuments Men Foundation.

My name is Robert M. Edsel, founder of the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art (www.monumentsmenfoundation.org), 2007 recipient of the National Humanities Medal. I am also the author of The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History.

Mr. Jerry Sampson has written a very thoughtful inquiry about the challenges faced by professional appraisers in dealing with items that may have been stolen during World War II or possibly "liberated" by Western Allied troops. The Monuments Men Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, receives inquiries almost every day from heirs of soldiers and others who have a concern about an item in their possession. A key part of the Mission Statement of the Foundation is to advise people and help illuminate the path home for any items that do not belong to the person possessing it.

Various guidelines exist to assist museums and others about works of art. Simply put, owners should know where their items were during the years 1933-1946, oftentimes referred to as the "gap" period. Items "liberated" by troops are a particular area of concern, especially when they involve any item considered cultural property. Generally speaking, this would exclude knives, guns, swastikas, etc.

Hundreds of thousands of works of art, library books, documents, and other cultural treasures remain missing from World War II. Our organization remains ready to assist all people of good will in determining the correct provenance of items affected by the war and in so doing, helping complete the mission of these great heroes of civilization---the Monuments Men and women.

We would be pleased to assist Mr. Sampson or any members of your organization. I encourage your members to visit our website and learn more about our work.

Robert M. Edsel
President
Monuments Men Foundation

My partner, AQB-Certified National USPAP Course instructor Bill Novotny, and I are pleased to provide you with a free, 22-minute narrated video overview of the changes recently incorporated into the new 2010-2011 edition of USPAP by the Appraisal Standards Board. The new USPAP is effective January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011. To view the video go here.

Some changes are minor, but some will have a significant impact on your practice, such as the new requirement to disclose any service you've provided regarding the subject property over the past three years. Did you sell it? Appraise it? Restore it? Own it? If so, you have some new reporting requirements with which to comply.

As authors and appraiser educators, Bill and I focus on USPAP compliance. And our work as expert witnesses has made us acutely aware of the importance of performing and reporting appraisals that are USPAP compliant.

Make sure you have a current copy of USPAP and that you stay abreast of USPAP changes. Don't have a copy of USPAP? Purchase a copy from The Appraisal Foundation by clicking here.

Questions? Feel free to contact us:
info@appraisalcourseassociates.com
http://www.appraisalcourseassociates.com/

I'm in the middle of reading The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel. This is a non-fiction work about a group of men and women enacted by various governments to preserve cultural art works during WWII. This question came to my mind. What role if any, does the professional appraiser play in regards to potentially looted or stolen property? What if in doing a house inspection, for any number of reasons, you find a great work of cultural art in an unsuspecting family's collection? WWII has been over for 60 plus years now. These items could have easily passed onto several other family members hands by now. Families who had no idea that this object could have been pillaged by or just bought on the street by "grandpa" decades ago. Objects that might even be listed in previous appraisals or estate settlements. What right do we have, if any, to report these findings and to whom would we report? I've searched USPAP and inquired with other seasoned appraisers only to get vague answers. Of course, I understand the articles of due diligence, our ethics and our code of conduct but unless information is requested by the government we're strictly confidential. What if our client is aware of it's history and provenance? And they thought that enough time had passed that no one remembered or cared. When should we know to cross a line and involve other authorities and how does this affect our relationship with our clients. I think that there are a lot of interesting questions here. Any answers??
Jerry Sampson

On September 23rd I posted a request for help here on the Appraisers Post and the AW Blog from a fellow appraiser who was seeking advice on an assignment where an uninhabited house full of valuable property, from antiques to books, required valuation and mold remediation (click HERE to read the original post).  The advice and comments sent in return were excellent, and the appraiser was most appreciative of the responses.  He send me the following update and asked if I would pass it along.  His name and location remain confidential in order to protect the various parties involved.

I did make contact with the executor a few weeks ago just inquire as to the situation of the estate settlement and the mold issues. The mold was a powdery Gray-greenish mold and could be cleaned with some effort though it was thick. I was told that the gentleman, who was the previous owner, through a power of attorney maintained a high standard of insurance. The insurance company's adjuster, the executor, the lawyers and the local health department all met together for some time. It was discovered that the elderly gentleman maintained a very good inventory with all the invoices for what he paid for items and other important papers intact. The latest additions were dated to the years 2003 - 2004 periods (so it was still kind of current). The insurance adjuster then scheduled for a hazardous materials clean up company to clean the house. Three large tents were put up to house the cleaning of the personal property. There was a crew of about 40 people who undertook this task. Which was then inspected by the health department and other officials. Drywall had to be replaced in this case and the studs and flooring were bleached,washed and/or painted. I have no idea how well things cleaned up. It sounds like it was a simple wipe, sweep and wash kind of job.

The executor and the lawyers contacted various benefactors and alerted them to the situation that in lieu of their share of actual property they would receive a monetary compensation instead. They were offered a waiver to sign that if they wanted to attempt to purchase items for sentimental reasons that they could do so and would after wards receive them free of charge up to the value listed in the old inventories. (I think that this is kind of strange.) Those items like rugs, household linens, upholstered furnishings or other porous items that could not be cleaned were "bought" by the insurance adjustor's company (based again on the old inventories) and the executor settled, with increases for inflation and other variables, for an undisclosed amount. The library was on the far end of the house and was not affected to the degree that the rest of the house was. All art work and books were successfully cleaned. There is an auction scheduled for sometime this early December for general household and antique items. The art work and very high end pieces have since been sent out of state to a regional auction house. All in all this was very complicated and I'm glad that I was kept out of the loop.

By Stephen P. Sweeting, ASA, MRICS

Although it might be a little early to administer last rites, the October 26 bankruptcy of Ritchies Auctioneers in Toronto appears to be the end of the 42 year old firm. I’m not going to go into the contentious reasons behind the insolvency; readers can check the following link in The Globe and Mail for a blow-by-blow account of the firm’s disastrous last few months: Auction house Ritchies forced into bankruptcy. Some of you may recall that I touched on Ritchies’ failure in an August 2009 post exploring how structural changes in the business landscape might affect local fine art and antiques markets. (See: Think Global and Think Local) Ritchies' business troubles first manifested themselves to the wider public when Sotheby’s Canada ended a multi-year auction services agreement with the firm due to the non-payment of consignors.

Ritchies was a quirky regional firm that tended to cater to the lower and mid-level art and antiques market in the Greater Toronto area. But every now and then the small firm scored some real successes that pushed them onto the national and even the international stage. The sale of a remarkable Francois Boucher pastel drawing for a record-breaking half a million dollars was one such foray onto the international stage. And their most recent association with Sotheby’s catapulted the firm into Canada’s top-tier fine art auction market. It was in the Ritchies salesroom that Sotheby’s sold Paul Kane’s Scene In The Northwest- Portrait for CAD $5.1 million including buyer’s premium in 2002. This record price for a Canadian painting sold at auction still stands today.

The failure of a regional auction house is not particularly newsworthy in the grander scheme of the international fine art and antiques marketplace. As most of us know, smaller auction houses both come and go. But as a former cataloger at D. & J. Ritchie Fine Art Auctioneers & Appraisers – the original incarnation of the firm before it was bought by the current owner – I have to admit a little sadness over the troubles and the insolvency. I cut my teeth in the appraisal of personal property at Ritchies and would be remiss in not marking the firm’s passing in this forum.

Appraising Judaica: Following new trends in Judaica Auctions
Posted by Elizabeth Kessin Berman, A.A. A.N.A.

Here's my first posting on issues in appraising Judaica.

It used to be that I would wait patiently for the Judaica auction season and then, after studying the limited objects put up at auction, I would settle down to study the catalogs and the results through the winter and spring. But this year, Judaica auctions continued into the winter and well into the spring. Some auction houses have even started organizing Judaica auctions every other month.

The auction floor has also expanded. Not all of the important Judaica pieces are going to the large auction houses in major world capitals. Smaller auctions houses are attracting Judaica collectors and Judaica collectors are more willing to divert their attention from New York. There are now other stages.

At Skinner Auctioneers in Boston, auctioneers were very pleased with the results of their Judaica sale held in late May. Their website that reports: “Skinner's May 2009 auction of Fine Judaica was a tremendous success, more than tripling the pre-sale estimate and grossing over $1.2 million for just over 200 lots of antique and artisan Judaica. The top lot in the sale was rare and important silver and silver gilt Synagogue Ark-form Hanukkah Lamp, originating in Brody (Galicia), and dated 1787. Auctioned for an astounding $314,000, against a pre-sale estimate of $60,000-80,000.” At Kaminski’s Auctions, located in a suburb of Boston, several Judaica items often appear in each of their monthly auctions.

Just last year a new auction house was launched in Jerusalem: Kedem Auctions is producing stunning catalogs with well written well researched titles. The catalogues are written in both Hebrew and English and they contain a wealth of information for collectors, historians and appraisers alike. Kedem auctioneers are not only up on their research, they are also very ambitious. They are holding auctions every 2 or 3 months. Kedem is also pushing the envelop and offering items that are not your well-known ritual Judaica objects. They are identifying new areas of Judaica collecting. More on this in my next blog.

I’ve also been following several on-line auctions such as Ben Ami Endres and a few others operating as Ebay stores. Additionally, a few auction houses who are principally known for their offerings of Modern/Contemporary Israeli artists are also attaching Judaica objects to their sales. Tiroche in suburban Tel Aviv has several sales of Judaica and these are often included with European decorative arts. Hammersite in Ramat Gan, Israel, also has Judaica lots included in some of their auctions.

(Click Read More below for the rest of the Article)

Posted by Todd W. Sigety, ISA CAPP

Last year for the Appraiser Workshops Blog I found a well written and informative article on litigating insurance claims. Although much was not applicable to the personal property appraiser, within the article was a very good interpretation of the Broad Evidence Rule. The Broad Evidence Rule (BER) in effect states that "every fact and circumstance which would logically tend to the formation of a correct estimate of the loss" may be considered by the courts. It is of course up to qualified appraisers to place a value or multiple values on property based upon the facts and multitude of circumstances.

The Broad Evidence Rule is defined on Forbes' site Investopedia as "A rule outlining the guidelines insurers must go about determining the value of lost, stolen or damaged property. The broad evidence rule does not specify any one method to value any one piece of property, only that the means which most accurately displays the true cash value of the property will be used."  Forbes clarifies the definition with "The broad evidence rule is used by insurance companies to determine the cash value to be paid out to the insured in the event of a claim. As opposed to using the traditional cash value (replacement cost minus depreciation), the broad evidence rule can take into account such factors as the age of the property, its tax value and any possible profits the item may have accrued".

David Maloney in his popular appraisal reference book Appraising Personal Property: Principles and Methodology (page 112) expands on the BER interpretation with  "The Broad Evidence Rule (a.k.a., The McAnarncy Rule) states that there are no fixed or rigid guidelines for the determination of the amount of recovery in case of loss. The two standards normally used (fair market value or replacement cost (new) less deprecation) are merely guides, and are not the sole determination of actual cash value. The rule allows for consideration of all the facts and circumstances (such as degree of obsolescence at time of loss, property has no market value-in-use, profitability, owner's opinion of value) which logically tend to develop a correct estimation of value of the destroyed or damaged property for the purpose of ascertaining the actual cash value at the time of loss or damage".

Because of the wide spread acceptance of the BER by the judicial system, much is left open to interpretations by the court. The BER has been viewed as both a positive and a negative in settling insurance claims. In any event, appraisers working on insurance claims should be aware of and familiar with the BER and how it is applied. The following excerpt on the BER is an excellent starting point. It is a good addition to what is typically found in personal property appraisal theory and methodology texts as it is written by attorneys.

(Click Read More for the rest of the article)

by David J LeBeau MFA AM(ASA)USPAP(06)©2008

The Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey presented an exhibition entitled "Century of Revivals, Nineteenth-Century American Furniture from the Collection of The Newark Museum" (September 26, 1982 - July 5, 1983). The curator of that glorious exhibition was Mr. Ulysses G. Dietz. In his commentary printed in The Newark Museum Quarterly (Pg. 7, Vol. 31, Nos. 2-3-Spring/Summer 1980), Mr. Dietz states that, " ... By the beginning of the nineteenth century, however, a more literal approach to borrowing from the antique was taken, and the Empire or Regency styles of the early 1800s constituted the first of the new revival styles:” He goes on to say. " ... Revival styles in American furniture shared a common basis: All were in some way romantic evocations of past eras literalized in wood and fabric."

Indisputably, the most visible and influential figure of the latter half of the 19th century was Queen Victoria. Alexandrina Victoria was born May 24th, 1819, and upon the death of her uncle William IV in 1837 she ascended the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Subsequently, she acquired the title of Empress of India in 1876 and she died on January 22th, 1901. Her reign lasted sixty three years and seven months, longer than that of any other British monarch to date. The English decorative Arts period centered on her reign is known as the Victorian Period (1837-1901).

It has been the custom, in the professional upscale auction houses of England and the continent, to use the names of monarchs to denote the place and period of origin of an artifact. This was a rather simple and effective method when the objects being discussed behaved themselves and fit neatly into historically recognizable design cubbyholes. However, designs were adopted and adapted from those in use during the reigns of European monarchs, to use in far flung places by many cultures that did not owe allegiance to the thrones of Europe. A piece of furniture that owes its design genesis to an ébéniste or to an author of a book of furniture design published in London must be identified by its own chronological, geographic and stylistic origin. Thus, a dining table constructed in London in the late 19th century would be dated and identified as English by the phrase: "A Victorian Dining Table". However, due to the extraordinarily long reign and the swift adoption of new styles during the period, it is necessary to amend the phrase with the style name of the piece in question, i.e., "A Victorian, Rococo Revival, Dining Table". Furthermore, if evidence exists that conclusively indicates the precise year of manufacture, the phrase should be further amended as follows: "A Victorian, Rococo Revival, Dining Table, 1859". The appellation "Victorian" refers only to the period between 1837 and 1901 and only to the people and places governed by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria never ruled the United States or any part thereof. Therefore, if it was made anywhere in the United States it is not “Victorian”. The use of one of the revival terms is the correct nomenclature. Thus a piece of Rococo Revival furniture manufactured in the mid 19th century in the city of New York is just that, a New York City piece in the Rococo Revival taste. It is in no way justifiably labeled as “Victorian.” However, a comparable piece made between 1837 and 1901 in the UK, or anywhere else in the British Empire, in fact, is “Victorian.”

(Click Read More below for the rest of the article)

Value…or was that Value?
Tom Helms
Value? Hmmmm… Everyone has some sort of “definition” about value: the appraiser, the state, the federal government, writers of books, virtually everyone and every agency. Only the hardcore purist thinks he or she knows the answer and then there is doubt from everyone else about the purist’s position! It is a confusing world for the layman and at times for the appraiser. But most important: Clients need to know value levels to understand the full impact of “what it is worth?” We must take a stand!

Attached is a short article we use to help explain …….right or wrong, it has worked for us.

The Dilemma of Values
The most common question we are asked as appraisers is “what’s it worth?” A logical question; however, to the appraiser there are different values for the same object, and the answer varies for each value. Confusing?

Most people think that their “Antiques Road Show” item is worth what they hear when the appraiser says, “the insurance or projected auction estimates value for your object is so much”. Wow! I am rich you think….for the moment that is…… until the owner learns the definition of the value given!

Insurance replacement value is the estimated cost that it would take to replace the object with an identical object, or if this isn’t possible, an object with similar qualities and usefulness in a reasonable amount of time. It includes not only the cost to purchase the object, but also the costs associated with finding and obtaining the item at fair market value along with the possible help of an expert, and the necessary costs of packing and shipping, This is the highest value of an item and generally does not represent what the owner could get in cash.

An “auction value estimate” is what the estimator or auction house appraiser thinks the item might bring at a well advertised national or international specialized auction. An average is given. In many cases if the average is not met, the item is not sold and the estimate was not its value for that auction.

Then there is the most common heard phrase: “fair market value”. This is the term associated with the IRS, taxable estates and, at times, estate settlement. The items are not actually sold, but a value is determined by a sale within a general market place. For example, a master artist’s work would not glean the highest value in a local market, but would realize its actual value on the international market. This would be its fair market value.

Click Read More for the rest of the article.

BOOK REVIEW- AESOP’S MIRROR by Maryalice Huggins

Once again the veil has been lifted and the public can peek behind the curtain of the antiques world to view its inner workings in the new book Maryalice Huggins Aesop’s Mirror. From a barn in rural Rhode Island to The Winter Antiques Show, Huggins tells the tale of a large mirror and an Empire sofa as they work their way up the antiques food chain. As a New York City antique restorer with a heavy hitter client list, the story goes deeper. This very personal story that will be a must read for personal property appraisers. It will validate both the highs and lows of our investigations.

In many ways, the book is the ultimate fantasy appraisal, the one we all would like to do if not bounded by time, money and energy. Due diligence directs us to consult experts when evaluating an object and the marketplace. Huggins, an insider, is able to show the mirror, unsure if is it American or English, to a staggering array of big names in the antiques field; John Hays, Luke Beckerdike, The Kenos, Alan Miller, Albert Sack, etc. Equally staggering is the wide variety of opinions and values gathered, many of which were spongy “maybes” and “perhaps” . No one gets by unscathed. This alone is worth the price of the book. She further reveals the little know “blessers” who carry enormous power over the object’s worthiness in the marketplace. These Blessers are often exalted restorers, not scholars who have learned how to wield their power and command fees for the combined result of both gut instinct and experience. As such, they are much aligned, especially by antique dealers who can watch their deals sour at their altars. New collectors and the uninitiated revere their every word and marvel at their staged quirkiness. The truly frightening part is that these many opinions are not written down or attached to the back of the object, so as appraisers when evaluating an object are faced with this shadow history. What if one of the blessers’ has ruled that your appraisal piece is less than it purports and the invisible opinion affects the value, unbeknownst to the appraiser? As we know it happens all the time.

Huggins hooks her audience with discovering the objects in a Rhode Island estate and purchasing it later at a Gustave White auction. In describing the svengali charm of auctioneer Mike Corcoran, she nails him. In capturing his circus ringleader mastery, I was fearful in sharing our beloved local talent with a larger audience. She also captures the rough neck male dealers, as base gamblers, addicted to the “action” of the trade more than honoring the object or building great collections. In the end, it is the auctioneer, Mike Corcoran, with his charm and integrity maintained by hovering just slightly outside of the trade that is the true hero of the book.

(Click on Read More for the rest of the review)

You’re invited to a virtual appraisal birthday party!

Happy Birthday to Brian Kathenes and Leon Castner’s Award-winning, Landmark, Appraisal Educational Seminar. "USPAP - A Personal Property Perspective" is celebrating its 15th birthday.

And all personal property appraisers are invited to the birthday bash celebration.

It’s a free, “USPAP - A Personal Property Perspective” update, live, tele-seminar party with a Birthday Gift for everyone who attends.

“No, we’re not giving away new cars,” says NAC’s Managing Partner Brian Kathenes, “But we know all our appraiser guests will really like their special gift. It’s a party no appraiser should miss.”

The tele-seminar and virtual birthday party will be held on Wednesday, October 21st.
Appraisers can register to claim their free 'seat' at: www.USPAPBirthday.com

“We needed a way of celebrating National Appraisal Consultants’ 15 years of training and coaching personal property appraisers,” says NAC’s Senior Partner Leon Castner.

“We’re hoping to fill up all the phone lines and give our fellow appraisers powerful information that will help them get more high-paying appraisal business along with the latest USPAP updates.”

USPAP – A Personal Property Perspective was a live, on-site seminar designed, developed, and presented by National Appraisal Consultants exclusively for personal property appraisers. It was first presented 15 years ago by Brian Kathenes and Leon Castner, years before most personal property appraisal societies embraced the USPAP standard.

It ran for two years across the US. More than 250 appraisers completed the program and received professional development points and a special NAC certification.

All appraisers are invited to attend the tele-seminar celebration for free (they just pay for their normal long distance charges) but they must register at: www.USPAPBirthday.com

It is difficult to establish the birth of modernism. Most often ‘modern’ is associated with twentieth century design. We tend to think of early examples by designers such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Josef Hoffman and Gerrit Rietveld in the years prior to the First World War. In reality, the seeds were planted as early as the mid 1800s with particular designers such as Christopher Dresser and Owen Jones, creating works which sharply stood out from the trends of the day.

Modernism wasn’t a single readily identifiable style, but rather a set of ideas threading together a variety of styles and movements from various countries. Overall, it rejected decoration in favor of abstraction. It streamlined form and pared it down to the essence. But more importantly, it believed in the power and potential of the machine. Designers worked with industrial advancements to help change the world.

Design reform also combined two revolutions of the nineteenth century: industrial and romantic. Design reformers believed the laws of beauty were rooted in nature and a unitary world. Most designers believed that their designs had the power to transform society. That reform could create a sense of social utopianism. Proponents sought to bring forth better materials and aesthetic quality of life for the majority through better design.




(Click the Read More Link for the rest of the article)

An Artfact representative contacted me at the Appraisers Post and asked if I would promote their special offer to appraisers.  As it is a money saving offer, I thought I would post and remind appraisers of the discount Artfact offers.

See below for a special offer to ISA/ASA/AAA/NAA members.

Why waste your valuable time searching hundreds of old auction house catalogs and websites for auction price results, when you can find everything you need all in one easy-to-use service?

Artfact is the world's largest and most comprehensive online auction price guide, delivering over 53 million price results for fine art, decorative art, antiques and collectibles all sold at auction. Representing over 2,000 auction houses, including Christie's and Sotheby's, Artfact's advanced search provides unabridged auction catalog entries, including provenance, notes, estimated and realized prices, and millions of full color, high quality images.

At Artfact, you can also quickly access over 500,000+ artist profiles, including artist biographies, price results and upcoming art at auction.

Artfact has been providing appraisers and collectors with a single source to research, price and find items for over 20 years.

"Artfact's Auction Results Database is extremely easy to use. Appraisers and Museum Staff are impressed by the number of complete catalog entries and full color images available."
Mary Leonard, Dallas Museum of Art

"I rely on Artfact to provide up to date auction price results for readers of "The Smart Collector" (Tribune Media Services). As a results database, Artfact has a little something for everyone and their selection of US and International auctions is a definite advantage. Artfact is a great example for smart collectors on how spending a few dollars to check a price database can pay"
Danielle Arnet, "The Smart Collector"

ISA/ASA/NAA/AAA Members Special Offer!

Artfact is offering a $500 discount off the price of a 12-month Professional subscription.  A $1,995 value for only $1,495!

Visit us at www.artfact.com and find out why hundreds of appraisers and collectors have been using our service for years.

Contact Jamie Poulin at 617.746.9890 or support@artfact.com and start or upgrade your subscription today!

While researching an unusual chair a client had purchased in London years ago (and told at a Roadshow filming, if attributed it could be worth in the mid five figures), I struck up a email "pen pal-ship" with a knowledgeable English dealer/scholar, Paul Shutler. Paul specializes in high end furniture and decorative arts, primarily 19th and 20th century UK. With his permission, I'm reprinting below an excellent, succinct explanation of "rarity," a recent entry on his new blog. Good reminder of the meaning of the word and ranking furniture and decorative arts as we appraise value.

JUST HOW RARE IS RARE

Often my clients come to me for advice when considering purchasing an item from another dealer or at auction. In some cases, they are interested in objects described by the seller as 'rare' or 'extremely rare and highly important.'

So, I decided to include my repeated response in the blog:

Ask the seller why they think the object is rare. In most cases I can explain instantly why something may or may not be rare. Certainly if I was describing something as rare, I would make sure I could do this.

It's worth remembering that if something is rare, it may be simply because the maker decided not to continue making an object because it just wasn't very pleasing, meaning not all rare objects are good objects.

Something might be considered rare because a fixed number of them are known to have been made, but how high can this number go? It is a known fact that Gerald Summers made only 120 one-piece chairs of circa 1933-4. Does this make them rare? It could be considered important given that it's a great example of a chair successfully made using only a single sheet of plywood, no fixings or joints, an industrial designer's dream. (Image from the Vitra Design Museum's book, 100 Masterpieces from the Vitra Museum Collection.)

Questions also need to be asked when dealing with the description important. Being rare doesn't automatically make something important. For a work of art or an antique to be described as important, shouldn't it mean it hah a part to play or was responsible for something of note? A useful example would be Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo's famous mahogany side chairs circa 1882. (One example is in the collections of The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts as well as the V and A museum.) They are universally considered to be important because their sinuous Art Nouveau design pre-dates the Art Nouveau period by a decade.

Busting The MythsWith all due respect to Discovery Channel celebrities Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, of Myth Busters fame, these appraisal myths must be busted before one can identify a strategic approach and establish the tactical elements of effective appraisal services promotion.


Busting -- "My appraisal designation, certification and qualifications will get me business."

Your appraisal designations, appraisal experience, and your appraisal qualifications will not get you more business. Your designations, expertise and qualifications are “features,” not benefits. Nobody cares about features. Nobody buys features. People buy benefits. They buy solutions. They buy answers to their problems, but they do buy features. Every designation, every letter after your name, and every area of specialty and expertise must be turned from a feature into a benefit.

In Successful Selling Strategies: Benefits vs. Features, publicity guru Paul Hartunian and I explain that when it comes to your appraisal qualifications – nobody cares. Prospects and clients will not care about any of your designations, until they understand the benefits of those designations.

Effectively marketing your personal property appraisal services is the most critical skill of any successful appraisal practice.

It is not “one of the most critical factors” – it is THE most critical factor. Without an effective marketing strategy, and a proven marketing action plan, an appraiser is doomed to a practice that is far less successful than it could be.

Appraisal myths have prevented many very qualified appraisers from properly marketing their services. As a result, these appraisers deny themselves the benefits of a well-run, highly-profitable appraisal practice. Until an appraiser looks objectively at his or her business, there cannot be any positive change in the growth and quality of anyone’s own practice, or in the appraisal profession.

In order to create a profitable, dynamic appraisal practice, appraisers must be aware of the existing myths that surround this most exciting and lucrative business. These appraisal myths must be exposed for what they are -- a fabrication created by appraisers who are looking for an excuse to explain their lack of success. It is always easier to blame an external source for our shortcomings than it is to look internally and examine why we have failed (or not have been as successful as we had hoped).

Exposing the Myths

There are three primary myths that, once exposed, will either galvanize you into action, or cause you to stop reading this article and stick your head in the sand. You get to choose your fate and your future.

Myth number one: "My appraisal designation, certification and qualifications will get me business. This is the number one fallacy of the appraisal world. It is the belief that leads many people to take appraisal courses, continuing education programs, and specialty study classes."

Once completed, the appraiser has an expectation that there will be a “payoff” for all the hard work. I’ve heard it many times. They gripe about spending a ton of money and loads of hours on a course, then expect it to pay off immediately. This is not the case. The knowledge, qualifications, designations and certifications earned are the foundation upon which an appraiser can market their services. These qualifications may provide an appraiser with a competitive edge, but only if they are marketed properly. Successful completion of any appraisal course is not a guarantee of business success.

Myth number two: "My professional appraisal organization is supposed to get me all the business I need." 

(To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)

I received this email in the early morning from The W Q Magazine Forum. I thought it might be helpful.

Social networking on the internet has spawned an entire jargon of terms and catch-phrases that are multiplying at a rapid rate. Here's a simple list of terms to keep you up-to-date and in the loop.

Social Networking Terms

blog — (n.) content written, uploaded and updated daily, weekly, monthly or occasionally by an individual author on a variety of topics, both personal and professional; (v.) blog: to write a blog; (n.) blogger: someone who blogs; (n.) blogosphere: a compendium of blogs throughout the internet; (n.) guest blogger: someone who blogs on someone else's blog.

bulletin board — (n.) a web page where visitors can post announcements and news. Bulletin boards are typically incorporated in on-line forums; (n.) BBS (Bulletin Board System)

embed — (v.) to copy html code onto a web page so that visual and textual content will be duplicated directly on the web page without the visitor having to navigate to the url where the content was first posted. By embedding content in emails, messages and other web pages, users can easily share and spread articles, videos and photographs across the internet.

Facebook — (n.) a social networking website where members can post and exchange personal and public notices, comments and content, including written material, photos, videos and music. Members can become friends of other members, allowing messaging among groups of friends. Members can join groups and promotional fan pages. Content is handily exchanged among friends through a "news feeds" which allows friends to see all the updates that other friends make.

Jades and other hardstones.

Such a difficult field! So many websites, so much confusing information! Buyer beware, appraiser be warned! That's the field of Chinese jades.

Is the hardstone work you are appraising in fact fashioned from "jade" and what does that term mean in the West, as opposed to how it might be used in Chinese dealer showrooms, and in your client's mind? What is its age, and is any apparent aging naturally acquired or artificially induced? How much do color, provenance and condition affect the value? These and so many other factors have to be considered in valuing a Chinese jade or hardstone carving.

The list below is intended to help appraisers find website sources for "comps" for works they have been asked to value, whether the works appear to be important or routine (and of course that is up to the appraiser to determine, not the website!). Unfortunately, most of the sites do not give prices and the appraiser must contact the company to discover the selling price of what appears to be a good comparable. The sites also vary in terms of the quality of their offerings and accuracy of their descriptions. An infinite number of sites offer jade carvings and jewelry, and this list is not inclusive. It is simply intended to provide suggestions for various levels of "comps" to aid in due diligence when appraising a Chinese jade or hardstone.

www.keverne.co.uk an outstanding site for archaic and later jades and other hardstones, with excellent descriptions; well-known London-based dealer

www.knaptonandrasti.com a wide selection of Song through 18th century jades, with fine photos including reverse views when important

(To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)

Hi Appraisers,

In this article, I will discuss using web resources to assist in object identification and object valuation. The intent of this article is to provide a framework for what is available to assist when identifying and appraising objects.

An interesting aspect of the internet is that there is no requirement for the accuracy of information and verifying claims made. It reminds me of the wild west, where anyone can post and say anything they want with little or no validation of the accuracy of the information.

What does this mean? It means that there is a lot of information to be obtained and it is up to the appraiser to review and determine the validity of the information and how useful it may be to identifying and assigning valuations to objects.

Search Engines
The standard search engines, like Google, Yahoo, and Bing are useful to help with object identification. While there are many print resources available, search engines can provide additional insight into a maker, a particular artist, and even images of same or similar objects.

Searching the web may be a supplement to using trusted sources like auction results databases. For example, a search for a little known artist may reveal additional information that is available since the latest print information about that artist.

With the explosion of blogs that are updated frequently, there is a good possibility that additional information is available all the time about artists, makers, and objects.

A fellow personal property appraiser and AW/Appraisers Post Blog reader has an interesting assignment and is seeking some advice from the personal property appraisal community.  If you have any suggestions or comments regarding his assignment please post a comment on the site (click on comments at the top of the post), or if you prefer, you can send to me personally by clicking HERE..

Names are changed or omitted in order to remain confidential.  Thanks for your assistance and advice.

I was approached about an appraisal assignment about a week ago. The executor contacted me about doing some estate settlement work. Simple enough. He and his wife were appointed many years ago to this position. The estate owner, we'll call "Mr. Greene", was their close friend, and had moved into a nursing home about six years ago with the last two years battling alzheimer's. "Mr. Greene" died two weeks ago at age 82.

"Mr. Greene" was quite well known in the auction and antique world. He was a serious collector in the fields of books, art and silver but surrounded himself with the best of everything. He was famous for his library which numbered in the low thousands and for his art work in which it is a known fact that he paid in excess of half a million dollars for one example. Very high end personal property.

"Mr. Greene" was survived only by an estranged cousin. Both his mother and father were the last lines of very wealthy families. He never married and had no children. The bulk of his size able estate was slated to go to charity with many pieces of personal property being willed to friends and to various dioceses' and offices, of his chosen faith, to be used as they wished.

About a week ago the executors entered his former home. To their shock they discovered that the entire home was covered with a thick layer of mold. To the degree that it permeated into drawers and cupboards. It was remarked that his clothing in the closets were so mold covered that it was hard to determine what color they were. No one had entered the home for at least six years. It is not known if this was caused from a ruptured pipe, the lack of ventilation or some chemical backlash, o if it is powdery or wet mold. So what do I do now?

Obviously this estate will have to be settled. An estate that will pass by far the $500,000.00 limits. The insurance which continued to be paid was with a high end company. They will have to be contacted quickly. Can things be cleaned and/or restored enough to be given to those in which it was willed to? How will the restoration effect the objects and the wishes of "Mr. Greene?" A important but sentimental piece to a friend valued at $300.00 with a possible $900.00 restoration tag hanging on it will have a lot of bearing on it. Even then will it be safe? Is this estate a total loss? Will the executors, who had keys all along, be asked to explain the negligence? To what level should I expose myself and my staff? Many facets to this problem. The executors just stepped back outside locked the door and alerted me. Please help!

By Todd W. Sigety, ISA CAPP

I debated on where to post this topic and related article.  I thought perhaps first the Appraiser Workshops blog, but quickly decided I wanted to include more commentary rather than a brief review and link to the article.  Because of that, the more appropriate forum was the Appraisers Post.


Last week the Washington Post ran a very good article on an area builder who dismantled a 1797 home (see image at left), moved it 150 miles and completely restored it as a second home.  In doing so the owner spent over $700,000.00 on moving and restoring the 3,400 square foot home. The article discusses the owners connection to preserving old homes, and how old building techniques were used along with other methods to preserve the integrity of the home.

My issue is not necessarily with the article or the content in it, but with the images of the interior and what they reveal.

(To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)

Appraisal Report Structure by David J. Maloney, Jr., AOA CM

There is no single approved format for all personal property appraisal reports, nor is there a required method of presenting information within the appraisal document. USPAP's STANDARD 8 states that USPAP does not "dictate the form, format or style of personal property appraisal reports, which are functions of the needs of the intended users and appraisers. The substantive content of a report determines its compliance [with USPAP]."

Appraisal reports typically contain a logical presentation of the required elements of information. Appraisers usually choose to prepare either a narrative letter-style appraisal report or a form-style appraisal report.

In a narrative letter-style report the appraisal has the look and feel of a formal letter on company letterhead complete with salutation, content, the USPAP certification statement, signature and enclosures.

In a form-style report the report is prepared in sections according to a pre-designed format, with each section appropriately titled and addressing the relevant elements of information it is designed to contain.

Regardless of which appraisal report form is used, in general terms, the appraisal report must contain three categories of information:

• Appraisal-specific information
• Item-specific information
• Supporting documentation 

Read entire article

By Todd W. Sigety, ISA CAPP

The National Association of Realtors recently released results from its 2009 technology survey. Many aspects of the survey don’t specifically transfer to professional personal property appraisers, but the one aspect that caught my eye was social networking. Brian Hiatt of Collector Pro software has posted on the Appraisers Post in the past on technology issues in general and on specific areas such as social networking. I would like to pass along some results from the Realtors survey on social networking. I do believe social networking can be useful and the Realtor survey results can also apply to professional personal property appraisers. (Click on the graphs for an expanded view, and on the back button to return to the post.)

The Realtor survey shows that many realtors network through social network sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. The survey states that 47% of the respondents are either extremely comfortable or comfortable with social networking, while 27% are somewhat comfortable, 10% uncomfortable or extremely uncomfortable. The report revealed only 16% did not use or experiment with social networking programs. That means nearly 84% of the survey respondents have tried social networking. Also very telling, in the 2008 Realtor Technology survey 67% responded they did not use social media. In one years time, usage of social networking sites went from 33% surveyed to 84% having used or tried social networking. That is an amazing increase in usage growth over a single year. It is no cliche, today technology does move quickly. (To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)

The Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies is quickly becoming the publication of choice for personal property appraisers. It is an annual journal written and edited specifically for personal property appraisers. It has been positively reviewed in Maine Antique Digest (click HERE to read the review) and endorsed by Wendell Garrett.

Original research articles, reviews , and discussions of professional appraisal issues and concerns from a variety of perspectives, theories, approaches, and methodologies are welcome. The next edition of The Journal of Advanced Appraisal studies will be published in March, 2010. Submission deadlines is fall of 2009. The articles must be original works, not previously published and a minimum of 3,000 words.

We are interested in articles covering the following personal property topics:

• Research Reports
• Opinion Pieces
• Interviews
• Book Reviews
• Ethics
• Valuation
• Authentication
• Appraisal Theory
• Appraisal Methodology
• Marketing
• Product Knowledge
• Legal Issues
• Conservation
  

For additional information and submission proposals on this exciting project contact the editor, Todd W. Sigety, ISA CAPP at toddsig01@gmail.com or 703-836-1020.

By Edith Yeomans, ASA

Are you tired of your staycation? Are you itching for a change of venue?

Would you like to nourish your inner Frenchman? Your inner Frenchwoman?

Then….BIENVENUE a MONTREAL October 29-31, 2009.

On day one feast your eyes on the McCord Museum of Canadian History collection of over 28,000 decorative art objects that document the material lifestyle of Montrealers, Quebeckers and Canadians in centuries past.

Begin this culturally enriching day with the Director of Collections, Madame Nicole Vallerie who will take you back in time and place to 18th/19th century Montreal.

Then immerse yourself in four small group curator-led behind the scenes tours of Canada’s Inuit and Aboriginal Art, costumes, textiles, fine art, decorative antiques, silver, porcelain, glass and furniture. Cap it off with the William Notman Photography Collection of Montreal as it looked in the period.

Dine in Montreal’s number one cultural arts café and explore the McCord Museum book and gift shop, both considered premier spots for luncheon and gifts given in Montreal.

No need to fret if you didn’t see all 28,000 items. The McCord is a 10 minute walk from Loew’s Hotel Vogue and your conference badge allows you to return at leisure during the conference duration. (www.mccord-museum.qc.ca)

Tonight you step into history to dine in Old Montreal at Gibbys, located in the Youville Stables on what was once the south bank of the Saint Pierre River near the original Huron Indian settlement of Hochelaga. Parts of the building date from 1694, 1740 and 1850. (www.gibbys.com)

One of the best ways I have found to keep in touch with prospects and clients is through regular communications. In this article I will discuss a couple of ways to keep track of your clients and keep in touch.

Keeping in touch with your prospects, professional peers, and clients is one of the best ways to obtain new clients, new business from existing clients, and new clients from referrals. Using an email list makes it easy to keep in touch. When considering using email for regular communications it is important to keep in mind these items:

Who is your target audience?
Remember that not just clients are targets for your emails. Contacts you have met at networking events, peer appraisers, attorneys, IRS employees, and prospective clients you have met.

It is all about content!
Nobody likes to get an email that is pushing a product or service. The content of your emails should be informative and show that you are an expert in your field. Consider providing information that your contacts may not have known if you had not sent the email. The idea is that over time, these reciepients will come to regard you as an expert in your field and when they need an appraiser, or someone they know, they will contact you. (To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)

by Suzanne Houck

Sometimes you attend a lecture where the information is so good that your notes survive year after year of “file thinning”. Once upon a time I attended a lecture by Sara Conklin, ISA, CAPP, an appraiser who specializes in all things nautical. The information she shared has served me well over the years giving me confidence in gathering appropriate information during onsite inspections and providing the knowledge to determine when I needed to seek the opinion of an expert. It is too good to keep to myself!

Proper Description:
Use the correct terminology. Vessels are the proper term for most everything that is upon the water. Don’t use the word “ship” unless it is a ship. A ship – short for “full-rigged ship” is a definite combination of masts and sails. You are safe if you say “vessel.” A tug and submarine are always “boats.” “Boats ride on the deck of ships” is another old chestnut that tells you the size difference.

When describing the vessel refer to port (left) and starboard (right) as you face the bow, the front pointy end. Stern is the back end, behind you.

Details to look for:

The Hull:
Is the hull carved from a single hunk of wood (low end), slices of shaped wood, or, is it plank on a frame (the best)? You can sometimes tell if the hull is plank on frame if it has little tiny planks along the entire side and small nails covered with plugs of wood (called treenails) all lined up. It can be impossible – and is dangerous -- to remove the cases from atop ship models. This observation can be done looking through the glass. In less valuable models these hull planks are drawn on.

Hulls can be “coppered” which means tiny pieces of copper are nailed onto the wood. Sometimes it is a copper strip that is stippled to represent nails. Coppering the bottom of a hull reduces the work on a plank on frame hull but can be also labor intensive depending on the technique. Individual smaller pieces of copper attached to the lower hold down to the keel (the backbone of the vessel) is time consuming which means more valuable. (To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)

As appraisers, we know the relationship between people and furniture is never static. The value and popularity of certain objects are constantly in flux. The nineteenth-century middle-class American home was all about objects, and heavily influenced by European aristocratic models. The pursuit of comfort and advances in technology and materials led to significant changes in the aristocratic idiom. But then things began to change.


In the twentieth century, modern furniture design was transformed by innovation and the influx of new styles. Much of the influence came when emigrant designers fled Europe eager to express and give vent to their visions. They incorporated new techniques, materials and methods to create a distinctly American style. While modernism was not created in America, it took on a look inimitably its own.


Over the next few months, I thought I would present a few modern designers’ work; explain what type of furniture maker they were and how their work has been doing in the market. Many of you will already know these designers and others may only be familiar with their names. Regardless, change is always going on, and we need to be aware of many different areas.


When modern design first hit America, the reception was mixed. Some people embraced these changes enthusiastically, others weren’t so sure. Modern design experienced highs and lows throughout the remainder of the century. The simplicity and popularity of mid-twentieth century design gave way in the 1980s under the Ronald Reagan influence to a more classic historical style. In clothing, Ralph Lauren brought back the quiet elegant look of restrained traditionalism, and the old money English country manor visage was made chic again by New York's "Prince of Chintz," Mario Buatta as he put a fresh twist on paneled rooms, Queen Anne furniture and floral chintz drapery treatments. Creative furniture designers were pushed to the fringes in mainstream America. (To Read the Rest of the article click the Read More Link below)


In the early 90s, there was a renewed interest in furniture from the mid century. Designers who made mass produced pieces such as Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and George Nelson, became highly sought after. After their creations reached high prices at auction, the trend expanded. By this decade, names such as George Nakashima, Vladimir Kagan and Paul Evans began to emerge, as well as other studio designers whose work was never mass produced. Their market developed rapidly as the internet gave these designers more exposure and the economy expanded to include younger collectors. In the past few years, designers such as James Mont, Tommi Parzinger and Karl Springer who produced custom designs have been elevated in the spotlight.


Internet dealer venues such as 1stdibs and auction houses began to specialize in featuring rediscovered designers from the past. Furthering this exposure, dealers, design magazines and internet blogs began to explore many of these designers, as well as many still relatively unknown in their attempts to present the freshest, chicest high-end vintage items. As a result, many items that would have been considered nice, high-end furniture items passed over by most shoppers are now beginning to be sought after. In the years to come, it will be interesting to see who else will be uncovered and appreciated once more.