Asian Art Consulting & Appraisal

Value and Authenticity
Commissioning an Art Appraisal
Post-Appraisal Services
Appraisal Fees

3. Post-Appraisal Services

Can I Ask An Appraiser to Be My Agent?
No! An art appraiser is NOT an agent. A professional appraiser is required to follow the code of ethics and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) approved by the Appraisal Foundation in his or her practice. It is considered unethical and unprofessional if an appraiser shows interest in the property that is the subject of his/her appraisal report. Hiring an independent appraiser for you art work is a necessity, since professional integrity is rare in the real world.

Can You Represent Me after I Commission an Art Appraisal from You?
Unfortunately, we don't not represent you after the delivery of an appraisal report. Our job is to provide an independent, impartial and unbiased art appraisal to owners of Asian art that will help you understand what you have and their market potentials, and help you make an informed decision. Our professional standards as art appraisers prevent us from serving as a middle-man or broker in the process of sale. 

Can You Guarantee that My Art Object Will Sell for the Price Proposed in the Appraisal?
Unfortunately, no--no reputable art appraiser should guarantee a sale price. The value conclusion provided in an art appraisal report is an educated guess, based on knowledge, extensive research, and market analysis of similar art objects in its most appropriate market place. Depending on market conditions and the ability of the agent you hir for selling your art, sometimes your art property will sell for more than the estimated value, and sometimes for less.

Are There Hidden Costs in Selling My Art?
Almost all forms of sale entail costs over and above the sales price--sometimes up to 50% of the gross sale price! Auction houses typically charge fees for commissions, advertising, cataloging, insurance, taxes, unsold fees, seller's premium, etc., some are deducted from the hammer price. Auction houses vary considerably in the amount and structure of their fees, so be sure to ask for a full explanation. The fees charged by auction houses often make it unprofitable for the average owner to sell his or her objects at auction. Selling directly to a buyer (whether a personal collector or a museum) also involves additional costs typically borne by the seller, such as insurance, shipping and commissions.

For many sales you will need to depend on the resources and services of an agent. The agent serves as your representative in the sale. It is his/her job to represent your interests in contacting prospective buyers, negotiating with buyers or auction houses, arranging for shipment, payment of registration fees, and so forth. All agents are paid a fee by the seller, typically in the form of a percentage of the sale price or as a retainer. It is essential that you chose a honest and experienced agent, be able to trust him/her. You should always investigate a prospective agent's qualifications, experience and merits before you sign a sales contract with your agent. 

Why Do I Need an Art Appraisal to Sell My Art?
No, you don't need an appraisal to sell your art work. However, obtaining an art appraisal report for your art object from a qualified art appraiser will place your art work on the market.  Without it, a good original art will sell for far less than its potential value, because you don't know what to expect from the sale and how to negotiate with the agent or buyer.

If you are thinking of selling your art object soon, you need to equip yourself with insider's knowledge and expertise to get top dollar for your art work. An art appraiser is not an art agent but an independent professional who works for you. By providing professional advice and a detailed report on the nature and value of your property, the market appreciation for your object, some selling strategies, the appraiser helps protect you from being bullied by any potential dishonest buyers of your art work. An art appraisal prepared by a qualified appraiser help you appreciate your art work in an articulate and professionial manner. It will explain in a logical way what you have, how the market will respond to your property, where is the most appropriate and relevant market place.

What Should I Do If I Need to Make an Insurance Claim?
1) Contact an art appraiser or an art adviser and explain your insurance needs.
2) Commission a proper appraisal report before you insure the art object. Better safe than sorry!
3) Make an appointment with your appraiser to inspect the damages and the current condition of your art property before presenting a claim to the insurance company. You also need to provide your art appraiser with the information you gave the insurance company earlier (photos, sales receipt, prior appraisal, estimated value, insurance policy, etc.).
4) If you do not have an appraisal of the object conducted prior to the damage, you can still commission an art appraisal that estimates both the value of the object before damage and the after-damage value of the art work.
5) When making a claim to the insurance company, present an appraisal report signed by a qualified art appraiser, together with a cover letter addressed to the insurance company from the appraiser.

My Art Work Is Damaged. Should I Repair It Myself?
Restoring a valuable object of art requires difficult skills, age-old techniques, training, and experience. For Asian art in particular, very few craftsmen possess the necessary skills and experience. Remember too that imperfect restoration often results in the devaluation of the art work. Therefore, unless you are working with a qualified art restoration specialist specializing in Asian art conservation, it is almost always better to maintain a damaged object in its current condition and sell it as is.

We always recommend that unless you know exactly what you are doing, you should not attempt to repair damaged Chinese art yourself. Many old art objects, simply by virtue of their age, are in slightly damaged condition. This need not be a cause for alarm, and you should never move to "correct" or "repair" damage or wear without first consulting a qualified expert.

If your art object isconsidered "altered" or "damaged," its value will be decreased significantly. A scroll painting, for example, would be considered "altered" or "damaged" if the painting lacks the original rollers or has been remounted and put in a frame under glass. Other objects (e.g., sculpture, ceramics screens) are considered "damaged" if they are broken or if one piece of their body is lost. Another category of damage involves mildew, significant stains or cracks on the surface of an object.