Asian Art Consulting & Appraisal

As Asian art historians (Ph.D. in Chinese art, Tibetan Art; M.A. in East Asian Art), we have in-depth knowledge of the best/newest scholarship on Asian art; as market analysts, we identify the marketability of your art work, understand the performance of auction houses and companies worldwide, tracking the ups and downs of artists and their works in the current market. Our appraisal report offers the best of both worlds: our Asian art expert conducts extensive research on the artist or workshop and analyzes your art work in its historical and artistic contexts, while our knowledge of the market is used to propose a realistic value conclusion that makes sense in the real world.

We are committed to equip you with the knowlege and insights often possessed by a trained professional. Our typical written art appraisal report starts with an identification, description and visual analysis of your art work in its historical and artistic contexts, a proper ranking of the subject property among its equals, a diagram or chart identifying value features examined, and ends with our comments or concerns on the most appropriate market place for your property. The goal of our appraisal report aims to walk you through the appraisal process and help you understand the reasonings behind the final value conclusion. We demystify an art appraisal, explain the valuation methodoloy in plain language, and realize your vision in complete conformity with the law.

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LEVEL I: RESTRICTED-USE APPRAISAL

The Restricted-Use Appraisal Report is for client use ONLY. It cannot be shared with third parties. This appraisal report is designed to meet the narrowly defined needs of the intended user (usually the commissioner) of the report. Some parts of the report (including the appraiser's opinions and conclusions) may not be understood properly because the facts and analysis leading to the conclusion are not fully spelled out in the report. If you are considering having a general understanding of what you have and its potential value under no obligation to other parties, especially the federally regulated institutions, this level of appraisal may suit your needs.

A Restricted Use Appraisal is not recommended for insurance, charitable contribution, sales or acquisition, or bankruptcy, etc.. If your object is highly valuable and requires in-depth analysis, or if its ranking in the market and comparison to other objects are complex to determine, this may not be a good option for you.

To acquire this service, you need to make a full payment of the quoted appraisal fee to initiate our research on your art work. We prefer a certified check or money order payable to "WEI YANG ART, LLC" and mailed to 274 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ, 08540. You can also make payment via PayPal.

LEVEL II: SUMMARY APPRAISAL

A Summary Appraisal serves people with standard appraisal needs. It helps you make an insurance claim, purchase an insurance policy, plan an estate tax or distribution, propose a marriage dissolution, draft a Pre-nuptial agreement, prepare for bankruptcy, dispostion or acquisition, etc.. A Summary Appraisal provides a reasonable amount of information, but not in great detail, in a form that can be shared with third parties, such as your insurance agent, lawyers, and estate executives. Fees vary, depending on the scope of research conducted and time needed to complete the assignment.

Our thorough research on your object not only brings you expert knowledge of your art but also equips you to take command of taking care of your needs, whether you are working with an insurance agent, a divorce lawyer, negotiating with a buyer or gallery, or hiring an agent to represent you. We present our research on the cultural and historical background of your work, analyze its aesthetic qualities, and the likely performance in its most relevant market place. A Summary Appraisal will enhance your appreciation of your art work and achieve your goals with educated strategy and confidence. It also offers the most up-to-date analysis of the most relevant market for your object, including recent sales of qualified comparables, the ranking of your art work among its equals, its market level, and our recommendations for further actions.

LEVEL III: SELF-CONTAINED APPRAISAL
(Contents of a Formal Appraisal Report)

This appraisal is the gem of our professional consulting and appraisal services. It is comprehensive, informative, and provides the highest level of detail about both aesthetics and the marketplace. Most assignments in this category concern high-quality art not well attested in the usual sources: it might lack a track record in auction or sales, it might be difficult to document in the historical record, or the artist or workshop that created it might be hard to assess. The fee for a Self-Contained Appraisal varies, depending on the nature of the assignment, the scope of work, and the time needed to complete the assignment.

A Self-Contained Appraisal Report of your property prepared by our Chinese art specialist is sufficient for the IRS's scrupulous review, if you are considering making a charitable donation to an non-profit institution for tax deduction. It also serves the practical needs of collectors and owners considering either a donation, a purchase or a sale. We are dedicated to serving as an alternative, expert set of eyes, helping you judge the authenticity, rarity, quality, condition, value, and desirability of your art object in question in the current art market.

A Self-Containted Appraisal Report serves the best collectors and owners of high-end art objects. It equips you with the information you need to appreciate and present your art work with the knowlege and confidence of an expert, if you need professional help in dealing with the complex art market and building up a high-end Chinese art collection. Information presented in the report helps you understand the nature of each art work, its cultural background, style and aesthetics, its potential value and its likely future market place. We are willing to put our Ph.D. and our knowledge and research abilities to work to provide you the information you need, including the artist's current market share, his or her ranking in the art world, and advice for acquisition or sale, as needed.

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How to Select from the Three Levels of Art Appraisal

Before selecting one of the three appraisals we offer (Restricted Use, Summary, and Self-Contained), you first identify your needs and consider your ultimate goals in commissioning an appraisal. The three options differ in the amount of detailed information provided and the intended use of the report. We aim to help you choose the kind of appraisal that works best for you.

The essential difference that separates the Restricted-Use and Summary appraisals from a Self-contained appraisals is the level of detail or information presented in the final appraisal report. A Restricted-Use Appraisal"states" the basic information relevant to the subject propert, serving art owners with a limited goal and modest budget. A Summary Appraisal "summarizes" important details in a concise manner, serving art owners with general appraisal needs such as insurance, sale, consultation, etc. A Self-Contained Appraisal "describes" the subject property and discusses its valua conclusion in depth as compared with the other two options. IRS requires a Self-Contained appraisal for all charitable/tax-deductible donations. Serious art collectors benefit tremendously from the expertise and knowledge presesented in the appraisal report.

Remember, the scope of work for an assignment determines the appraisal cost. The more information you request, the more expensive the appraisal is. Thus, identifying your ultmate appraisal needs prior to commissioning an appraisa will certainly cut down the appraisal cost.

Questions? Please Contact Us, or call us at (609) 688-6891.

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DISCOUNTED RATE FOR APPRAISAL OF ART COLLECTION

We offer a competitive appraisal rate if your art collection is big and sophisticated. We welcome any research challenge. The appraisal fees reflect the nature of your collection, the scope of work, and time required for completing the research and composing the report. A customized appraisal package intends to satisfy the needs of the owner(s) of various art objects. Request for this appraisal package, if you have a collection of mixed Asian art objects, including, but not limiting to:

FINE ARTS, DECORATIVE ARTS; ANTIQUE FURNITURE; ANTIQUE TEXTILES;
CERAMICS; BUDDHIST ART; TIBETAN BUDDHIST ART; JADE/WOOD/IVORY CARVINGS

We never hesitate to invite other experts to join us for a thorough investigation of your artworks in valuation. Our research team consists of highly trained and dedicated Japanese art and Korean art specialists, and we are always ready to engage other specialists if necessary. We will listen carefully to your concerns and objectives. We will help you figure out an appraisal plan that is specifically designed for you and your collection. Before we make a formal proposal, we will discuss your specific appraisal needs and the merits of our customized appraisal services. Details in our proposal will include the appraisal fees, a payment structure, and a tentative completion schedule, etc. Once you approve our proposal, we request a retainer to initiate the research.

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QUALITY RESEARCH & CONSULTATION SERVICES

We assist you with your research project at all levels. If you need professional assistance with a specific artist or piece of art work, or general questions requiring research, our art specialists are happy to help. Our qualifications are unmatched in the field: we have the highest degree in the field (Ph.D in Chinese Art), specialized research training, over 25 years of hands-on experience all over the world with Asian art work of all categories, and a deep understanding of Asian art aesthetics, traditional techniques and connoisseurship. In short, we are the best trained professionals in the field for this kind of consulting/research services. Our consultation fees reflect the nature of each assignment, the scope of work required, and the schedule of completion. Once we arrive at a mutual agreement, a retainer is expected to initiate our research.

For more information, please Contact Us, or call us at (609) 688-6891

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WHAT YOU PAY FOR

We NEVER try to sell you services you do not need. You pay ONLY for the appraisal or consulting services suitable to your intended needs.We will recommend services to you based on the information you provide about your artwork and your intended needs. Our job is to help you appreciate your art work, understand it, take care of it, and make an informed decision based on our appraisal. We are willing to run extra miles to help you by including as much information as possible in the report. For example, if you commission a Consultation Appraisal for Sale, our Appraisal Report will direct you to the most appropriate and relevant marketplace of your art work, comments on the marketability of your art work, and help you formulate a strategy for sale.

We help you realize your vision and achieve all your goals at the minimum cost. We charge the minimum for our professional services. Fees vary based on the scope of work required, the materials involved, and the complexity of the assignment. We charge only for the services you order according to our agreement. In light of the economic difficulties, we currently extend a flat appraisal to our clients in order to make our professional services affordable. Please Contact Us for details.

If you are not certain what kind of art appraisal to commission or don’t know exactly what art object you own, you should start with a Preview. After reviewing three photos of your art work (front, back, and a close-up of inscription or mark), our art experts will tell you HONESTLY if your property merits an art appraisal or not. Please DO NOT include the photos in the email body but send as an email attachment for a better view.). If your art work is of the market appeal, we will recommend an art appraisal for you to consider based on the quality of your art work and your appraisal needs.

Remember: You don't have to be an expert about your art work before you approach us--otherwise you probably would not be seeking a professional assistance in the first place! Our Asian art specialists are happy to help you figure out your appraisal needs and recommend a suitable appraisal for your artwork.

Interested? Please Contact Us, or call us at (609) 688-6891.

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