Please Note: At this time, Michael is not taking on new appraisal clients. If you have a work of art that requires a formal appraisal, you should only seek out the assistance of a professional appraiser affiliated with an organization like the Appraisers Association of America or the International Society of Appraisers.
Reasons to have your artwork appraised
To determine the insurance value of a piece or collection.
To determine value for tax purposes in an estate or charitable contribution.
For informational purposes to inform decision-making.
The Appraisal Process
Once we have determined why an object should be appraised, the next question is how. Michael appraises artworks only after examining them in person. After viewing the artwork, he creates a scope of work in consultation with the client. Thorough research is followed by the writing of a detailed appraisal report compliant with the Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice, the only Appraisal standard accepted by the US Congress. Appraisal times vary based on a variety of factors including number of objects, complexity of their markets, and the purpose of the appraisal. Michael take this process seriously and is selective in what projects he accepts.
Non-appraisal options
For individuals who do not feel ready to have their artwork formally appraised, there are other choices. Michael is happy to work with owners of artwork to research their pieces simply to give them more information about the maker, time period, medium, and the like. A trained art historian, Michael is passionate about educating collectors on the context in which their artworks were created. Some collectors may not be as interested in value as in organizing and caring for individual objects or larger collections. For more about advisory services for collectors, please see our Art Advising page.
How We Can Help
Michael earned his Bachelor's Degree in Art History from Providence College, where he served as a research assistant under art historians whose expertise ranged from Renaissance and Baroque Painting, to Modern & Contemporary Art, to the Arts of Asia. During his undergraduate career, Michael developed a sense of the scholarly foundations necessary for high quality art historical research. In addition to his BA in Art History, Michael holds a Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts at New York University in Manhattan where he has studied with the most skilled and respected appraisers in the industry. Michael has successfully passed the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Exam and maintains his USPAP compliance. A current Associate of the Appraisers Association of America, Michael has appraised objects now in the collections of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, the Hudson Opera House, the Newport Art Museum, and the RISD Museum.
Michael has appraised works by internationally renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Wayne Thiebaud, Ed Ruscha, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, O. Winston Link, and Alexander Calder.
He has also provided valuations for works of historic and contemporary Northeast artists such as John Frazier, Florence Leif, Anthony Tomaselli, Michael Rich, David Witbeck, and Shawn Kenney.
Pricing
Appraisals and Research are billed strictly on an hourly basis stated on Michael’s current rates page. Michael does not perform appraisals in exchange for any form of commission-based payment related to sales of researched or appraised works of art. Michael strives to make high quality appraisals and research affordable and completes appraisals in accordance with rules laid out by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.