1. Professionally trained at the Rhode Island School of Design in Principles of Valuation
   (a program established by the American Society of Appraisers)
2. Compliant and up-to-date with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), ethical guidelines established by the Appraisal Foundation in Washington D.C. ( a board authorized by Congress as the Source for Appraisal Standards and Appraiser Qualifications).
3. Extensive experience in the art world, including a Ph.D. (A.B.D.) in Art History
4. Numerous connections with specialists and experts in the field

Why should I be wary of reports provided by auction houses and dealers?
As an independent appraiser, I have no present or future financial interest in the objects I appraise. Many auction houses and dealers hope you will ultimately consign your work or sell your work to them. Also, most of the individuals doing appraisals for auction houses and dealers do not have professional training in art market research and analysis and report writing.

What constitutes a good appraisal?
Many appraisals consist of merely a page or two describing the object and giving an opinion of value. A well-written appraisal report will contain much more, including a description of the state of the market for the object, an explanation of all sources consulted (auction houses, dealers, databases, et cetera) and a discussion of the analysis used to arrive at a value conclusion. The best reports are written by trained appraisal professionals who comply with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), ethical guidelines which were established by the Appraisal Foundation in Washington D.C. ( a board authorized by Congress as the Source for Appraisal Standards and Appraiser Qualifications).

Why is professional training important?
An appraisal is not the same as a price, nor is it guaranteed that an insurance company or the IRS will always agree with its conclusion. Many appraisals state a value and do not explain how they arrived at that value! That may not hold up if it is contested by an insurance company or court of law. For your valuable artwork, it is important to work with an appraiser who has been trained to write a professional report following specific methods and procedures. The quality of an appraisal report and the clearness of its argumentation can be especially important in the unfortunate event that one needs to file a damage claim or claim a loss with an insurance company, which are occasions when most disagreements over value occur. Having a well-prepared report in which the appraised value is clear and obvious to the adjuster will greatly expedite what can be a lengthy and emotional process of concluding an insurance case.

Different Type of Value = Different Type of Appraisal
Many people do not realize that an appraisal is not a blanket document that can be used in any circumstance. The purpose for the appraisal will determine the type of value. As an example, an appraised value for a painting would differ if you are seeking insurance coverage versus declaring bankruptcy. In the latter case, objects must be swiftly disposed of on the market, and therefore may not fetch an ideal price. The value may be the same in different cases, but not always. It is important to clearly specify why you need an appraisal. Are you adding a Floater to your insurance policy to cover high value art objects? Are you in the process of planning your estate and want to have a sense of what your fine art objects are worth for inheritance purposes so you can be sure of an equitable distribution among your heirs? This information is needed to determine what type of value is sought. All such information shall remain confidential. Appraisal reports are written for specific purposes including the following:

1. Insurance Coverage – As part of a comprehensive policy or a Floater to your policy
2. Insurance Replacement Value – In case of loss or damage
3. Market Value – Seeking to sell an object or use it as collateral
4. Estate Planning – Determining Value in order to assist you and your attorney in devising an estate plan

1. Onsite inspection– each object is carefully inspected, measured and described in notes.
2. Work is photographed from every possible angle.
3. Research conducted to compare it to other objects by the same maker or in the same class of objects which have recently sold at auction or at retail. Research entails some or all of the following:
   1. Going to libraries
   2. Using subscription-only databases
   3. Consulting with experts on the artist
   4. Visiting or calling auction houses and art dealers
4. Looking at a variety of factors which might influence value (such as rarity, condition, style, provenance et cetera) and analyzing comparable objects in the marketplace, a report is produced stating an  educated opinion of value.

1. Two bound copies stating an opinion of value with a careful explanation of the process and analysis.
2. Each report comes complete with:
   1. Photographs of the object
   2. A thorough description of the work including style, genre, importance of the artist, and importance of this work within the artist’s body of work.
   3. A meticulous description of  all the research that went into ascertaining value, including sources consulted.
3. ***A copy of the report will be kept in a locked and secure location for FIVE YEARS after the date of the report, in case a back-up is needed at a future time.

Other Services
Consultation for those seeking to Buy or Sell a Work of Art
Do you have a painting you are considering selling but are uncertain whether the best price could be realized at auction or at a gallery? Do you have a specific artist whose work you love and wish to acquire but want to be certain you do not over-pay? I can assist you by doing market research to determine the most favorable outcomes for you as a buyer or purchaser of art. I can also act as a broker, acting solely on your behalf in the purchase or sale of a work of art.

Art Research
If you own a painting and wish to know more about the artist and the work, I produce research reports placing the painting and artist in historical context and providing as much detail as possible for your edification. I also do provenance research.

Fees vary depending on the nature of the project. For specific inquiries,
please contact me at Info@dfaaacs.com.

Education
Ph.D. , (A.B.D.), Art History, Specialty in American Art History - Boston University,
M.A. , Art History - University of Washington
Certificate – Art and Antique Appraisal Program, Principles of Valuation, Rhode Island School
    of Design (in Conjunction with American Society of Appraisers)
USPAP (Uniform Standards of Personal Appraisal Practice)

Publications
American Paintings, Watercolors, Pastels, and Stained Glass at Harvard: Artists Born Between
    1816-1856 (Contributing Author, Forthcoming Spring 2007)
The Complete Jacob Lawrence (2-volume publication including A Catalogue Raisonné
   of Paintings, Drawings and Murals and a critical monograph, Over the Line - The Art and Life
   of Jacob Lawrence), co-authored with Peter T. Nesbett, published by The University of
   Washington Press, Seattle, 2000.

Awards
The George Wittenborn Award for Excellence in Art Publications in 2000, for the Jacob Lawrence
   Catalogue Raisonné - presented by Art Research Library International, (received April 2001).

Teaching Experience
African American Art History: A Survey (Rhode Island School of Design –
   Continuing Education)
The History of French and American Impressionism (Boston University)
The History of Modernism (Boston University)
Introduction to Art History (Boston University)

Fellowships
Jacob Rosenberg Fellow - Fogg Museum, Harvard University,

Non-Profit Work
Member of the Board of Directors for the Romare Bearden Catalogue Raisonné,
   New York, N.Y., Current.
Secretary/Treasurer, Board of Directors: The Jacob Lawrence Foundation,
   New York, N.Y, 2000-2004.

Memberships and Affiliations
Candidate Member – American Society of Appraisers
Member - Association of Historians of American Art
Member - Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association
Member - College Art Association