Topics at Brunk Auction Appraisal Seminar

The other day I posted on the May 12-13 Brunk Auction Appraisal seminar.  I have a little more information with the speakers and their topics for the two day program.  For additional information, contact Brunks Auctions  at 828-254-6846.

• Welcome and Opening Remarks: The Market Speaks: An Overview of Decorative Arts at Auction, Robert Brunk, President Brunk Auctions

• Pitfalls in Appraising American Furniture, Andrew Brunk, Senior Specialist Brunk Auctions

• Appraising Silver: Recognizing Fakes and Restorations, Al Crabtree, The Brass and Silver Workshop, Charleston, SC and Robin Rice, Brunk

• Introduction to Fibers, Kathy Staples, Brunk Auctions: The New Kids on the Makret, Kathy Staples, Brunk Auctions and Karen Swager, Brunk Auctions

• The Examination, conservation and ruination of Art: Veracity and Value, Laura Crocket, Brunk Auctions and Colin Post, Painting Conservation Asheville NC

• Reception at Brunk Auctions

• Assessing Oriental Rugs, Condition, Region and Value, Dana Kelly of Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs, Lexington, KY and Robert Brunk

• Appraising Time: Early Clocks, Gary Gullivan, Gary Sullivan Antiques, Sahon MA

• Chinese Porcelains in Today's Market, Daphne Rosenzweig, Ph.D., ISA CAPP and Ruby McCall Brunk Auctions

• The Eternal Appeal of Chinese Jade, Daphne Rosenzweig, Ph.D., ISA CAPP and Ruby McCall Brunk Auctions

• Breakout Workshops with Brunk Auction Staff

Brunk Auctions Appraisal Seminar - May 12-13

Brunk Auctions in Ashville, NC has just announced a new, and very reasonable two day appraisal seminar. The seminar will be held May 12-13, and will include outside experts as well as Brunk specialists. The two day seminar costs only $100, and any profits made will be donated to the Foundation for Appraisal Education, (the publishers of the Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies), toward their scholarships and educational initiatives.

The notification letter from Brunk stated.

For more than 25 years. Brunk Auctions has served the Southeast as a friendly regional auction house with an international reputation and clientele. Based in Asheville, North Carolina, we strive to be the very best in the field and pride ourselves on our reputation for integrity) and client service. We have developed a symbiotic relationship with many appraisers, and we count on reputable appraisers to refer clients to us who are interested in selling fine art and fine objects. With the current economic climate, changing global markets as well as shifts in people's tastes, the market has changed dramatically over the pest few years.

With this market in mind, Brunk Auctions is holding an appraisal seminar on May 12 —13 at our gallery in Ashesville, North Carolina. As you can see from the enclosed brochure, the seminar will be a series of hands-on lectures and workshops presented by both specialists from our staff and other well-known experts in the antiques and decorative arts fields. We hope this will be a forum to help us keep our skills sharp for accessing a wide range of materials in today's ever changing market. While we will be discussing some of the more traditional decorative arts, we will also explore some of the more specialized fields such as Asian porcelain and jade that has been claiming recent market attention. Attendees to the seminar will also be able to earn Profession Development Credits from the International Society of Appraisers.

Many of you have been to our gallery in Asheville and we look forward to welcoming
you back. For those of you who have never been to our gallery or spent time in Ashville. May is a beautiful time to visit. The Biltmore Estate, the North Carolina Arboretum, and downtown Asheville are just a few of the nearby attractions that you may want to visit while in town. Our May 28' 29th auction will also be set up for early preview.

Please do not hesitate to call for additional information about lodging, transportation and area diversions. We hope to see you in Asheville.

Sincerely yours,
Robert Brunk, Andrew Brunk and the staff at Brunk Auctions

For more information visit the Burnk Auctions website (click HERE) or call directly at 828-254-6846.

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 ORDER TODAY!! - The Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies - 2011. Click the button to order.

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Chinese Vase Sells for $1.2 million

Here is a situation that should be of interest to all appraisers. Fellow appraiser Daphne Rosenzweig, Ph.D., ISA CAPP notified a group of appraisers about a Chinese vase which recently sold at Brunk Auction House in Ashville, NC for $1.2 million, including buyers premium. It was the highest selling piece ever at a Brunk sale.

The catalog noted Qianlong period (1736-1795) markings, but considered the vase 20th century and listed a $400.00 - $800.00 catalog estimate. Even with expert advice, the authenticity of the vase remained questionable, enough so the auction house listed as a 20th century item. This shows the difficulty of authentication and that appraiser need to aware. many time what we see as appraiser works the opposite way, with the client thinking the item is more valuable than it is. Here is an occasion where the property appears to be worth more, at least in the minds of those bidding, far more than what was expected.

According to the Ashville Citizens Times, several experts looked at the vase and questioned the authenticity, hence the 20th century listing. The Citizens Times reports What made this vase so special? It's from the Qianlong period, which means it was made between 1736-95. And it was in very good shape.

Still, scholars who examined the vase for Brunk had mixed opinions on its authenticity.

“Obviously people bidding on this thought it was authentic,” Brunk said, “and they are probably right.”

To read the Citizens Times article, click HERE.

ISA Annual Conference - Assets 2016, Dallas-Ft Worth, April 15-18, 2016

The International Society of Appraisers annual conference program and early registration has now been open and active for about the past month.

The conference is to be held in Dallas-Fort Worth, April 15-18 at the Hilton Fort Worth, and the program looks like another winner for ISA.  If you look at the early registration page (click HERE), you will note that so far over 125 appraisers have signed up for Assets 2016. That is an amazing number given we are still 4 months out. If you have not already registered, I urge you to do so early as this conference again has the look of another sell-out. And, like past conferences, it has an excellent program, is a premier networking event, and some of the best comradery and sociability in the profession.

Newly elected ISA President Christine Guernsey recently stated about the conference, "Our conference theme, "Expanding Horizons," focuses on an ever-changing industry and finding new opportunities for your appraisal practice. By attending, you will gain insight into the new directions industry-related gatekeepers are taking with their clients and how appraisers can collaborate for increased business; learn advanced methodologies to solve unique and difficult appraisal assignments; discover how to forecast future trends and advance your connoisseurship; and identify new business strategies that will help expand your appraisal horizons."

Guernsey continues "This year’s conference speakers continue ISA’s tradition of bringing you top industry experts. They include, to name only a few, Michael Moses of the Mei Moses Index; Peter May of LinkedIn’s “Art Solutions…Best in Practice” and “Trusts & Estates Network” with a combined 25,000-plus followers; Michael Plummer of Artvest; Lark Mason of Lark Mason Associates and IGavel; and an inspiring keynote presentation by Dennis McCuistion, award-winning host of the PBS television news show, the McCuistion Program."

I am pleased to be part of the program, interviewing wealth manager Peter May, administrator of two extremely large Linked In groups, “Art Solutions…Best in Practice” and “Trusts & Estates Network” with a combined 25,000-plus followers. Peter and I met earlier this week to plan our general session discussion which will include ideas on teaming with wealth managers and other professionals, promoting appraisal practices on Linked In, new methods of networking and new trends within the profession. It should be an interesting discussion and interview, with time allowed for audience questions.

For more information and registration to the conference, click HERE.

The full program for the conference Assets 2016: Expanding Horizons, follows

Program

Assets 2016 | April 15-18, 2016 | Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
ISA’s annual conference, Assets 2016: Expanding Horizons, schedule at a glance.

Advance your education and find new opportunities for your appraisal practice. ISA's Assets 2016 educational program will help you gain insight into methodologies for forecasting future market trends, learn strategies for unlocking the private doors of related-industry gatekeepers, advance your connoisseurship, and discover new business strategies for the ever-evolving personal property appraisal profession.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

4:00 - 7:00pm
Registration Open
 
1:00 - 4:00pm Tour: Behind the Scenes at Heritage Auction House
Friday, April 15, 2016

8:00am – 5:00pm
Registration Open
 
8:00am – 4:30pm
Specialty Tours (click HERE for info on the tours)
 
6:30– 8:00pm
Welcome Reception – Welcome to Dallas–Fort Worth
 
8:00– 9:00pm
New Member Reception

Saturday, April 16, 2016

7:30am – 5:30pm
Registration Open
 
7:30 – 8:30am
Continental Breakfast
 
8:30 – 8:45am
President's Welcome & Opening Remarks
 
8:45 – 10:00am
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dennis McCuistion – Host and Executive Producer of the award-winning and nationally syndicated television news show, the McCuistion Program on PBS.

Expanding Horizons: Appraising in a Landscape of Change
How will impending economic, social, political and market trends impact future opportunities and challenges for the personal property appraisal profession?  As an author, “recovering” bank CEO, professor of corporate governance at University of Texas at Dallas, and popular PBS television host, Dennis McCuistion regularly explores relevant social, economic and political issues affecting our world with leading global strategists. Be inspired by Dennis’s unique perspective on how embracing expected changes can present meaningful opportunities for appraisers to rise to future business challenges and shifting business models.
 
10:00– 11:15am Michael Moses – Beautiful Assets - Mei Moses Art Index, New York, NY

Making Sense of the Market for Fine Art and Decorative Arts
We have all heard staggering auction results for fine and decorative arts in recent years. Sold prices climb higher every auction. But what is really happening in the arts and collectibles market? Mr. Moses will discuss how collectible assets have performed over time and how this information can be used in valuation and the risk adjusted financial performance of the market’s leading artists.  We cannot predict the future, but the past can be useful in outlining the range of possibilities.
 
11:15 – 11:45am Networking Coffee Break
 
11:45am – 1:00pm Peter May, JD, LLM, CFP – Independent Wealth Advisor, Linkedin Group Owner “Art Solutions….Best in Practice”, Linkedin Group Manager “Trusts & Estates Network”, combined followers of 25,000 and growing. Interviewed by Todd Sigety, ISA CAPP – WSA Appraisals, Alexandria, VA

Collectible Assets and New Directions for Wealth Advising; Creating Opportunities with clients, their collections and Estate Planning Professionals
Differentiating…Developing….Establishing.  New opportunities abound (and are constantly changing) in working within your client’s existing relationships.  Understand how those in the estate profession are now working with their clients, using collectible assets to create succession and success.  Appraisers can lead the process and are the best equipped to create synergistic relationships with their clients and estate professionals.  Learn how appraisers can create opportunities by helping to solve client and estate professionals needs.
 
1:00– 2:15pm Lunch on own
 
2:15 – 3:45pm Michael Plummer – Principal and Founder of Artvest, New York, Expert Witness in Detroit Institute of Arts Bankruptcy Litigation

Expanded Insights: Advanced Methodologies Employed in the DIA Valuation
In 2014, Michael Plummer of Artvest Partners LLC, a leading global art advisory, was named as an expert witness in City of Detroit's bankruptcy litigation suit. In his valuation of the Detroit Institute of Art’s collection, Plummer identified, analyzed and weighed how the market impact of notoriety and blockage could be predicted to affect the proposed deaccession of this renowned collection. Mr. Plummer discusses his advanced approach to this high-profile assignment, with profound implications for public-trust and stewardship.
 
3:45 – 4:15pm Networking Coffee Break
 
4:15 – 5:30pm Lark Mason – Founder of Lark Mason Associates and IGavel

Asian Turbulence and Market Upheaval: How to Keep Calm and Stay in Business
Following the growth of their national economy, Chinese art has been the rock star of the middle market. With declining prices for many categories of American and European fine and decorative art markets, one bright spot has been China. But, turmoil in the property and stock markets in Asia have disturbed these economies and the effect has rippled across the Pacific. A regulatory labyrinth restricting the trade of ivory and other endangered species has complicated an unstable market. Lark Mason is well-positioned to demystify these complex issues and help us provide meaningful guidance to our clients.
 
5:30pm
Sessions Adjourn
 
5:30 – 6:30pm Committee Meetings
 
Sunday, April 17, 2016

7:45am – 5:30pm
Registration Open
 
7:45 – 8:45am Committee Meetings
 
7:45 – 9:00am
Continental Breakfast
 
9:00 – 10:15am
FA and ARC Joint Session - Unique Appraisal Assignments
Speakers:
Josefa Gonzalez Mariscal, ISA AM – Velazquez Fine Art Consultants, Kingwood, TX
Susan E. Lahey, MA, ISA AM – Eastern Art Consultants Inc., Toronto, ON

The Challenges of Appraising International Art and Collectibles
Appraising international art and collectibles brings its own set of challenges which include currency rate exchanges both current and past, variance in sale information for use in comparables from different countries, customs, art repatriation, patrimony law and protecting cultural heritage to name a few. Learn navigation and appraisal tips from fellow ISA members representing two of the US borders, Josefa Gonzalez Mariscal (Houston, TX), specialist in Latin American art and former Cultural Attaché for the Mexican government and Susan Lahey (Toronto, Canada), Asian decorative arts specialist and instructor for upcoming Asian specialties course.
 
10:15 – 10:35am
Networking Coffee Break
 
10:35 – 11:55am
BREAKOUTS I

ARC: Wes Cowan – Cowan Auctions, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Host of History Detectives

Things We Keep and Stories We Tell
Every object, large and small, has a story, and a family member who was part of the story. The mementos we collect connect us to a bigger story, whether passed down in the family or acquired because we were charmed by them. As an auctioneer, frequent appraiser on PBS’ Antiques Road Show and host of History Detectives, Wes Cowan will share his unique perspective on how our relationship with objects informs our views of American History. Cowan will also share trends in the current antiques marketplace and how to weigh "the story" in assessing collections.
FA: Rachel Davis – Rachel Davis Fine Art, Cleveland, OH

Less than Perfect: How to Assess Condition Issues When Valuing Works On Paper
How do appraisers factor in condition issues for prints and works on paper when determining value? How much does mat burn, light strike or a torn corner change the value? Is there a formula that can be applied and used as a guideline? Rachel Davis from Rachel Davis Auctions in Cleveland Ohio addresses these issues every day in her quarterly Works on Paper auctions, and will discuss how the various conditions affect value in the market.
 
12:00– 1:15pm
Lunch and Learn, network and learn with appraisal colleagues
 
1:15 – 2:30pm
BREAKOUTS II

ARC: Jeff Schrader – Principal, Advance Guard Militaria, Burfordville, Missouri

Taking Stock of the Closet Arsenal
This presentation will introduce appraisers who are unfamiliar with firearms to the fundamentals of safely handling and inspecting weapons. Appraisers will learn to accurately identify the basic types of firearms most commonly encountered in estates, and discover the resources available to them for research. We will also discuss related military material that is commonly found with firearms, as well as basic legal concerns that appraisers may encounter.
FA: Russell Tether – Russell Tether Fine Art, Dallas, TX

The Pathway to Transparency in an Opaque Market
Online sales, private sales, and difficult to find comps….what is an appraiser to do? Get the scoop from Russell Tether, a private dealer and specialist in secondary market fine art management. Mr. Tether discusses the process for accessing private sales information, and how to obtain the most relevant comparables with due diligence. Discover new strategies for obtaining critical sales data from private dealers and fine art galleries.
 
2:30 – 2:50pm
Networking Coffee Break
 
2:50 – 4:05pm
BREAKOUTS III
ARC: Matthew Sturtevant –  Decorative Arts Editor of Venu Magazine and Co-Owner of M.S. Antiques and M.S. Estate Appraisals, Fairfield, Connecticut

Distinguishing European Furniture: Out of the Woods and Beyond
This lecture is designed to give the listener tips and clues on how to identify European furniture by understanding the characteristics that point to a specific country of origin and time period. Primary and secondary woods, design elements, construction techniques and furniture forms will be addressed. Walk away from this lecture with real knowledge that will help you on your next appraisal of antique furniture!
FA: Cristin Tierney – Cristin Tierney Gallery, New York, NY

Contemporary Art: Are We at the Crossroad on the Information Highway?
The intersection of art and commerce is congested with art fairs, live and online auctions and galleries-both brick and mortar and online only. Is this growth sustainable? How will emerging online auction houses such as Paddle8, Lofty and Auctionata impact the fine art market in the next 5-10 years? Do art fairs provide a serious venue for buying art or are they simply venues for gallery promotion? How can appraisers navigate the world of contemporary art with so many players and arrive at relevant conclusions? Ms. Tierney, an instructor in art market trends at NYU, shares her perspective on the future of online resources for the sale of contemporary art.
 
4:10 – 5:30pm
FA and ARC Joint Session
Speaker:
Andrew Brunk - Brunk Auctions and one of the creators of Bidsquare
Lemons to Lemonade: Recipes for Repositioning in a Secondary Market
What do you do when fine early American antiques become dismissed as “brown furniture”, dark 19th century paintings or extravagant porcelains become bargain box lot items? Mr. Brunk will discuss the innovative ideas he’s implemented at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina and BidSquare which made them  leaders in marketing antiques and fine art through visual and online media. He will also explore strategies for successfully bringing these challenging assets to market.
 
5:30pm
Sessions Adjourn
 
5:30 – 7:00pm FAE Happy Hour & Auction with special Sponsor Appreciation
Monday, April 18, 2016

8:30 – 9:00am
Coffee & Breakfast Service
 
8:30 – 9:00am
CAPP Appreciation Coffee
 
9:00– 9:45am
ISA Business Meeting
 
9:45am – noon
Closing Speaker and Awards Brunch

David Wharton – Professional Photographer, Fort Worth, TX

Picture Perfect
Learn professional tips and tricks from an industry pro on how to take better photographs, and elevate the quality of your appraisal reports. David Wharton teaches us how to masterfully photograph items under glass, shiny surfaces, and to visually document marks, signatures and condition issues.
 
Noon Meeting Adjourns
 
1:00– 3:00pm Committee Report-Out
 
6:00– 10:00pm Special After Conference Barbeque and Margarita Tour, for those remaining Monday night

Source: International Society of Appraisers 

ISA Annual Conference, Charleston, SC

The following is the program schedule for the upcoming ISA Annual Conference in Charleston, SC.

To register, click HERE or call the ISA Office at 312.981.6778


Sunday, March 15th
4:00 – 7:00pm Arrival and Registration

Monday, March 16th
Exhibit area will be open throughout the conference

7:00 – 9:00am Registration

7:30am Networking Breakfast

9:00am Welcome and Introduction
Fred J. Winer, ISA CAPP, President, International Society of Appraisers Richard Wisner, President, Carolina’s Chapter, International Society of Appraisers

9:15 am Keynote Speaker: “Y’all Are Not From Around Here, Are You?”, Tom Savage, Director, Museum Affairs, Winterthur Museum

10:30am Coffee Break

10:45am “Made in China: Export Porcelain for England and America”, Ron Fuchs, Curator, Reeves Collection, Washington and Lee "English Maps and Prints", V.J. Duncan, VJ Duncan Antique Maps, Prints and Books, Savannah, GA “Edwardian and Art Deco, Still Popular, Still Holding Value”, Nina Woolford, ICGA, ISA CAPP, GG

12:30pm Lunch on your own Charleston trolley passes for three days will be provided to all attendees

2:30pm “Appraising Autos, Boats and Motorcycles”, Michael Coxwell, Dealership Manager/Collector “Are you Alone? Are you Sitting Down: The Cultural Art of the Gullah People”, Alvah Beander, Certified Member of ASA “Victorian Jewelry”, Dawn Evers, The “Charleston Silver Lady” and owner of Antiques on Main

3:30pm Coffee Break

3:45pm “Having Too Much Prejudice: Charleston’s Obsession With English Silver”, Al and Charlotte Crabtree, The Silver Vault, Charleston, SC, “FBI Art Crime Team: Regulatory Basis and Case Study”, Gregg Horner, FBI Art Crime Team, “Value Research”, Nina Woolford, ICGA, ISA CAPP, GG

4:00 – 6:00pm Education Foundation Fund Raiser

6:30 pm CAPP Reception
Tuesday, March 17th
Breakfast on your own

9:00am Appraisal Speaker: Janet Moffitt, IRS Art Appraisal Services

10:00am Coffee Break

10:15 am Committee Meetings

Those not involved in committees can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade on King Street or visit shops and galleries in downtown Charleston.

12:30pm Buffet Lunch sponsored by the Education Foundation

2.00pm English Furniture, George Read, Appraiser and former Sotheby’s Auctioneer
“Americans Abroad”, Angela Mack, Executive Director of the Gibbes Museum of Art
“Rolex 101”, John Brojak, Collector, Authenticator and Author of The Rolex Report

3:00pm Attendee Tour Options (included in registration fee) Museum of Charleston or Gibbes Museum of Art Dinner on your own

7:00 pm Education Foundation Fund Raiser, “Sex and the City: It’s Affect on Fashion”

Wednesday, March 18th
Breakfast on your own

9:00 am ISA Annual Business Meeting
Welcome Comments: Charleston Mayor Joe Riley

10:30am Coffee Break

10:45 am “Basics of the Expert Witness”, Roger Durkin, Instructor USPAP and Expert Witness Courses

12:00pm Awards Luncheon

2:30pm “State of the Market”, Andrew Brunk, Brunk Auctions

3:30pm Coffee Break

3:45pm Closing Speaker, Wendell Garrett, Consultant of Americana at Sotheby’s and Editor-at-Large of The Magazine Antiques

5:30pm Closing Reception
Thursday, March 19th

Optional Tours – Please note that the deadline for tour registration is February 19, 2009

Magnolia Plantation Tour – $45.00
Magnolia Plantation was originally the home of the Patriot Thomas Drayton and was tended by the Drayton family for over 200 years. This plantation is known not only for its famous garden but also for the exciting collection of fine and decorative arts. We will depart from the hotel at
9:00 am. Our tour will begin as we travel toward the Ashley River to the avenue of famous plantations. Once at Magnolia we will have a 45 minute tour of the house to view ten rooms filled with early American furniture, European porcelains, quilts, coin silver and other treasures. Part of the private art collection of John Drayton Hastie is on display in an upstairs room. We will also have time to visit the out buildings and garden while we are there. The English garden is one of the oldest public gardens in South Carolina. There will be a boxed lunch provided for a picnic on the grounds. We will return to the hotel around 2:00 pm. Visit www.magnoliaplantation.com.
Cost: $45.00

Brookgreen Garden Tour – $55.00

Brookgreen Garden combines beautiful gardens with of our nation’s premier collections of American figurative sculpture. We will depart from the hotel at 8:30 am. The bus ride will provide time to view DVDs on the history of the garden and the processes used in creating some of the sculpture. We will arrive at the welcome center and walk through fabulous gardens framing part of the famous sculpture collection. The garden path ends at the research center which will be open for our group. The research center houses many more pieces of sculpture and is visited by artists and researchers from around the world. Lunch will be served at the auditorium where curator Robin Salmon will provide a lecture on the highlights of the collection
as well as tips for appraisers when approaching sculpture. We will return to the hotel around 4:00 pm. Visit www.brookgreen.org.
Cost: $55.00

BidSquare

A few weeks ago I posted on the roll out of a new online auction platform (click HERE to read the original post and Bidsquare press release), developed by six auction houses (Brunk, Rago, Skinner, Cowans, Leslie Hindmin and Pook and Pook). In addition to the auction platform, the site also archives price data which is available for collectors, and appraisers to use without charge.

There seems to be some unhappiness with the traditional auction platforms, such as LiveAuctioneers based upon fees, collections and customer service.  All of these factors were part of the reasons the six auction houses partnered and developed Bidsquare.

The Huffington Post reports

The worldwide art and collectibles auction trade has become worldwide over the past decade because of greater wealth that has been accumulated by entrepreneurs around the globe and because of the ability of buyers in far-flung locations to participate in sales through online bidding. Christie's, Sotheby's and Heritage Auctions all have created their own in-house online bidding platforms, but most every other auctioneer relies on an outside company, the largest being the Manhattan-based LiveAuctioneers.

With all the good of a globalized art market has come some problems (a higher incidence of successful bidders refusing to pay, particularly in countries with new wealth, such as China and Russia) and criticism of LiveAuctioneers for its unwillingness to pursue slow- and nonpayers. "When the hammer goes down on a sale, LiveAuctioneers demands its three percent commission immediately, and we have to pay them," said Leslie Hindman, who runs an auction house in Chicago, Illinois. "If the person who bid doesn't pay, LiveAuctioneers won't do anything. They won't follow up with that person. They don't give us the names of underbidders, so that we can try to sell the lot to someone else, and we have to petition to get back our three percent, which they are slow to return."

She also noted that LiveAuctioneers' vetting process for online bidders is unsatisfactory - "we turn down 20-30 percent of those who register with LiveAuctioneers, refusing to let those people bid at our auctions" - and that the online platform has "no mechanism for checking if Mr. Wong is the same Mr. Wong who failed to pay another time."

Hindman is not alone in her frustration. As a result, she and five other regional auction houses - Rago in Lambertville, New Jersey, Brunk in Asheville, North Carolina, Cowan's in Cincinnati, Ohio, Pook & Pook in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and Skinner in Marlborough, Massachusetts - joined forces to start their own online bidding platform, BidSquare. Launched on August 18th, 2014, BidSquare aims to solve these problems, as the fees that participating auction houses pay BidSquare will be lower than those charged by LiveAuctioneers ($1,000 per auction or, for smaller auction houses, $650 plus one-and-a-half percent of the sale); auctioneers are to be provided more information on underbidders, and "the auctioneers will be able to communicate what we know about people registering for sales, such as those who haven't paid in the past," Hindman said.

"The six auction houses put our heads together to think about what auction houses want and what bidders want," she said. Among those interests is a free searchable database for prospective buyers, and auctioneers will be permitted to advertise their sales on the site.

Source: The Huffington Post

US Antiques Roadshow Valuation Record Set

Just the other month we saw a Chines vase sell at Brunk's auction in Ashville, NC for $1.2 million against an estimate of $400-$800 dollars (click HERE to read the AW post). Just recently in Raleigh, NC the Antiques Roadshow evaluated four pieces of Chinese jade as high as $1.07 million. The jade was from the Chien Lung, dating between 1736 and 1795. The report is short, so I will cut and paste the full article.

The UPI reports RALEIGH, N.C., June 28 (UPI) -- "Antiques Roadshow" appraisers valued a jade set as high as $1.07 million, the highest appraisal since the show started traversing the United States.

The collection -- jade pieces from China's Chien Lung reign from 1736-1795 -- belong to an unidentified woman who arrived early at the Saturday taping in Raleigh, N.C., of the popular PBS show, The News & Observer in Raleigh reported Sunday.

The woman told the appraiser the pieces belonged to her father, a military liaison to China in the 1930s and '40s, show officials said.

Asian art appraiser James Callahan, who examined the four pieces, said the dealer steered her father to quality items. The popular PBS

series travels cross-country, helping folks assess the value of collectibles and heirlooms.

"The dealer selected very fine pieces," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."

Callahan says the value of the pieces depends on the market for them in China and that the Chinese government often wants to get such pieces back.

"Roadshow" workers said the woman's initial reaction was silence, followed by, "Damn!"

Upcoming Events from Appraisers Association of America

Study Day: Santa Fe

Friday, August 8, 2008, 10:00am to 5:00pm with Dinner & Opera at 6:30pm LewAllen Contemporary, Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, SITE Santa Fe, Museum Hill, and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Join AAA for an extraordinary Study Day in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when we will visit LewAllen Contemporary, the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum, SITE Santa Fe, the Museum Hill area, including stops at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art and the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. We have worked with AAA member Leona Zastrow to create this wonderfully enriching program. The study day is timed to coincide with the Santa Fe USPAP course on Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, 2008.

USPAP

Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily

Santa Fe: Holiday Inn Santa Fe

Study Day: Kansas City

Friday, October 24, 2008, 10:00am to 5:00pm with Tour & Dinner at 6:30pm

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art & Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO

Join AAA for an extraordinary Study Day in Kansas City, Missouri, when we will visit The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. We have worked with AAA members Pat Graham, Rachael Blackburn Cozad, Burton Dunbar, and Ruth Moss to create a day of hands-on study, special access tours, and networking with the directors, curators and art historians leading the way at these two remarkable institutions. The study day is timed to coincide with the Kansas City USPAP course on Wednesday and Thursday, October 22 and 23 which will take place at Kemper East.

USPAP

Wednesday and Thursday, October 22 and 23, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily

Kansas City, MO: Kemper East

Appraisers Roundtable: New York City

Tuesday, September 9, 12noon, AAA Office

Please join host Beth G. Weingast, AAA, for the monthly roundtable in New York at the AAA office; topic: Estimating a Job and Talking with Your Client About It! Rsvp 212.889.5404, x11.

National Conference: New York City

2008 National Conference: Changing Times, Changing Markets

Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9, 2008, $495 for AAA Members

New York Athletic Club, 180 Central Park South at 7^th Avenue, NYC

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Study Day: Asheville including visits to Biltmore, Brunk Auctions and more! Wednesday, February 25, 2009 in conjunction with USPAP: Asheville, February 23/24, 2009. (dates tentative)

Study Day: Houston including visits to the Menil Collection, the Rothko Chapel, MFA Houston and more! Wednesday, December 10, 2008, in conjunction with USPAP: Houston December 8/9. (dates tentative)

For more information contact

Appraisers Association of America
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 2000
New York, NY 10016
212.889.5404 x11

212.889.5503 fax

aaa@appraisersassoc.org

www.appraisersassoc.org

Have You Heard of Barneby's?

Last week I was corresponding with fellow appraiser and friend Soodie Beasley, AAA, ASA AM of Kansas City about some mid-century modern pieces I was working on for a consulting assignment.  Although the furniture did not turn out to be valuable, or perhaps even collectible, Soodie passed along a great website called Barneby's.

Barneby's is an auction house sales aggregator, right now with over 450 auctions houses who list their upcoming auctions.  The site is growing quickly.

Additionally, Barneby's archives past auctions.  Barneby's is a site developed in Sweeden, and many of the auction houses are European.  But, the site is now growing in the U.S. and a sampling of auction houses from the US include  Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams, Heritage, Phillips, Pook and Pook, Rago, LA Modern, Hindman, Brunk, Neal, New Orleans Auctions, Michaan's, RAgo, Wright, Skinner, Doyle, Stair, Thomaston, Treadway and the list goes on. Even online auction platforms such as Paddle 8, iGavel and Auctionata are listed on the site.

You can search the site by keyword or by category, when the listing comes up you can click on the item and it takes you to the auction website listing.  This simple and intuitive process works upcoming sales as well as archived sales.  The listings are rather amazing, and it is free to use.  You have the option of registering if you wish to save searches.

Check the website out at Barnebys.com, and take a few minutes to view upcoming and past sales. I have done a few searches and have been rather impressed with how the site works and the large amount of price data which is all available for free.

This also shows, as solo professionals appraisers should constantly be networking with fellow appraisers. By reaching out to Soodie, who is an expert in mid-century modern furniture (where I am more of an 18th/19th Century specialist) I not only obtained the info that I needed to assist with my assignment, but I also learned of the Barneby's website.  As solo professionals, it is easy to become overly self-reliant, and by reaching out to fellow appraisers and experts not only expands our knowledge but enhances our appraisal practice.

The Barneby's website states

Recently, the auction market has undergone some dramatic and big changes. Until now, flipping through an auction catalogue required not only the effort to actually get hold of one, but also needing to know industry inside out. The auction houses mainly addressed a small group of sellers and bidders, resembling a clique rather than a market. But this is no longer the case. All over the world more and more people are visiting auctions, which means that the industry is growing – both in number of participants and lots.

We've managed to make all auctions more available by gathering them in one place. By opening up the previously secluded auction world, art, design and antiquities are now just a click away and accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Our central concept is that this transparency should be beneficial to all. By introducing the houses to enthusiastic bidders, we've achieved something new and exciting. We’re providing the auction houses with new, dedicated customers, whilst simultaneously presenting the buyers with the full spectrum of auction houses and lots.

Source: Barneby's 

Bidsquare

I had recently heard rumors about a group of strong regional auction houses partnering in a new auction platform.  I received an email from Rago Auctions this morning announcing the new platform, called Bidsquare. It appears several auction houses have started their own auction platform and will be moving away from other established platforms such as Invaluable and Liveauctioneers.

Bidsquare initially has six auction houses participating in the new online platform. They include

• Skinner
• Rago
• Pook and Pook
• Leslie Hindmin
• Cowans
• Brunk

The interesting aspect of this for appraisers is that there is a search function for upcoming as well as past auction sales from these six houses. The ability to simultaneously search these six regional auction which typically obtain excellent consignments will make life easier for many appraisers.  The Rago release states there are over 600,000 searchable archived lots from the various auction houses. These six eastern auction houses have a strong following from dealers and collectors and are very strong for middle to high end consignments and auction sales.

All you have to do is complete a quick and simple registration form, and then you have access to the archives.

Rago reported on Bidsquare

The first is Bidsquare. Bidsquare is a new online bidding platform that hosts auctions from established auctioneers of good reputation with great stuff to sell. Rago is proud to be one of the six auction houses that founded Bidsquare and launched it this week. We created it for bidders looking for desirable property that is plentiful and varied and honestly described. We built it to be easy, reliable and secure. You'll find property on Bidsquare that you won't find elsewhere - more and more all the time. There will be live as well as timed auctions from the founding auction houses, as well as other established and reputable auctioneers invited to join us on Bidsquare. You'll find useful and interesting information on the Bidsquare blog and Bidsquare social media. There's also an ever-growing database that already holds 600,000+ records - sales results from all participating auction houses - all freely accessed in one easy, integrated search.

Source: Bidsquare

ISA Assets 2010 - Toronto, Canada

On April 30 - May 3 ISA will celebrated its 30th anniversary with its annual conference, Assets 2010 in Toronto, Canada.  Over the past few years ISA has become known as leader in presenting some of the best personal property appraisal conference programs in the profession. Speakers at the recent Baltimore and Charleston Conferences included author and arts scholar Wendell Garrett, author and dealer Sumpter Priddy, Tom Savage of Wintethur, Andrew Brunk of Brunks Auction, Wes Cowan of Cowans Auction, Janet Moffitt of the IRS, Ron Fuchs of the Reeves Collection, Art Law author Judith Bressler, Lita Solis Cohen from Maine Antique Digest, and author and scholar Carrie Rebora Barratt from the MET.

The Toronto Assets 2010 continues in the same tradition.  The conference will have strong programs for fine art, jewelry and antiques and residential contents. The Conference is open to non members and of course members from other appraisal organizations.

The recent press release on the conference follows:

(Toronto, Canada) The International Society of Appraisers will celebrate its thirtieth birthday with an in depth three pronged Conference in Toronto on April 30-May 3. The Conference, entitled “Assets 2010”, will consist of programs in Fine Arts, Antiques and Residential Contents and Gems & Jewelry. Conference coordinator Kathryn Minard, ISA, CAPP, and conference co-chairs Irene Szylinger and Catherine Williams and Jim Poag, Gems and Jewelry program coordinator have arranged a lineup of credentialed powerhouse presenters for each session, a pair of dynamic keynote speakers, Robert Ramsay and David Ben, and scheduled tours of such important venues as the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramics, the Bata Shoe Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada, Corona Jewelry Company, the Stephen Bulger Gallery and a tour of a private residence featuring Jamieson Tribal Art.

According to Minard one of the main points of emphasis for this Conference is affordability and flexibility. ISA has arranged very generous rates for participants at the host hotel, the Park Hyatt Toronto in downtown Ontario. It is close to convenient public transportation and is surrounded by a wide variety of eating establishments for all tastes and budgets.

While the Conference will have three distinct sections, participants will be encouraged to pick and choose among sessions to accommodate the cross-over interests of many attendees.

The Fine Art program will feature sessions on the art market, contemporary photography, Inuit art, authentication, insurance appraisals, cross border appraisals and report writing. Presenters will include gallery owners, dealers and auctioneers, university professors and curators, representatives of AXA Art Insurance, the Senior Conservation Scientist from the Canadian Conservation Institute, a report writing specialist, and a representative of the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board and cross border appraisal experts from ISA.

The Antiques and Residential Contents program will feature sessions on hallmarks, quilts, Victorian, style and design, paperweights, insurance appraisals, appraising pop culture, cross border appraisals and report writing. Presenters include some of the same presenters in the Fine Art program plus representatives from the Hallmark Research Institute, the assistant curator of the Royal Ontario Museum, a representative of the American Quilters Association and a collection management specialist.

The Gems & Jewelry adds a costume jewelry expert, a representative from Korite International, the maker of Ammolite jewelry from Calgary, a representative from Ontario based Byrex Gems and the author of the Rolex Report as well as several presenters in the other categories.

The Conference itself is very reasonably priced beginning at $575 for ISA members with Super Saver early registration which ends January 31. Rates are slightly higher after that. Special rates are available for single day events and for spouses/guests. The tours and events are also very reasonably priced. To register online go to http://www.assets2010.org.
Site of the course is the Park Hyatt Toronto, 4 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2E8 Canada, (416) 925-1234. A group discount rate is available through ISA for accommodations at the hotel. Hotel registration is available online at the above address.

For more information contact the International Society of Appraisers, 737 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2100, Chicago IL 60611, phone (312) 981-6778, fax (312) 981-6787, email isa@isa-appraisers.org, website www.isa-appraisers.org

For more information, click HERE.

Brunk Seminar Oct 6-7

Back from ISA Conference

I just returned from nearly a week in Charleston, SC for the ISA annual conference. I was there early to assist in setup and attend the ISA Board meeting.

In my opinion (and that of many I have spoken with) the conference was very successful. ISA had an excellent turn out of members, with more attending than we actually budgeted for. I think the strong program along with the allure of Charleston were the reasons for the strong attendance.

I enjoyed many parts of the strong program, including those by Tom Savage (director of museum affairs at Winterthur), Ron Fuchs (Director of the Reeves collection at Washington and Lee), Geroge Read (appraiser and former Sotheby's auctioneer), Greg Horner (FBI Art Crime Team member), Alvah Beander (ASA Appraiser speaking on the Gullah people), Janet Moffitt (IRS Art Appraisal Services), Roger Durkin (ASA appraiser on expert witness testimony) and Andrew Brunk (auctioneer on state of the market). Those are the ones that I saw, there were still other sessions I was not able to attend.

I particularly enjoyed George Read. If you ever have the opportunity to see him speak, I highly recommend you take advantage of it. A truly gifted speaker with a vast amount of knowledge and information. His presentation A Little History of Antiques was informative, educational and amusing.

This program was a fitting followup to last years successful conference held in Baltimore. Next year the conference moves North to Toronto.

The ISA conference is open to all appraisers, and in my biased opinion, I believe ISA is now managing the best conference program in the personal property appraisal community.

The journal was also being sold at the conference where sales were strong, and it was very well received by both attendees and speakers. I am please to say a copy of the 2008 and 2009 edition were also given to Janet Moffitt of the IRS to act as staff copies for the IRS Art Appraisal Service team. I am please to announce that I was awarded the ISA Lamp of Knowledge Award for my contributions toward appraisal education for organizing and editing the Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies.

Now that I am back, I hope to get back to more timely AW posts of what is happening in the markets and appraisal related news. Thanks to everyone who sent in links and news information while I was traveling. It was greatly appreciated. So, dont stop sending just because I am back at the computer. I cant collect all the relevant information, so if you see something of interest, please email me the information or link, I might have a post scheduled for it, but I might have missed it as well. Dont be shy, we can all work together to help the profession.