Appraisals
I am frequently asked to appraise tribal art and artifacts. Generally people are curious what something is worth, but may have no immediate interest in selling that item. I find that people who write to me fall into one of the following categories:
The Dealer. To the dealer most items are a commodity to be bought and sold for a profit. No Dealer can afford to keep in inventory items that have little chance of selling. Pure economics here. Because it is a business, the successful Dealer will be knowledgeable about the merchandise they carry and will generally have a grip on market value and what's "hot and not". Most Dealers contact me to sell to me, or occasionally seek my opinion on value or authenticity as it relates to a specific item that falls in my area of expertise.
The Collector. This person buys to acquire, to enjoy the purchase. If they sell or trade, it is usually to upgrade. Typically, Collectors buy from dealers and trade with other collectors. A Collector can afford to buy what they like and spend what they can afford pay, since cost, while an issue, becomes secondary to the thrill of the acquisition. Most collectors write me to purchase from me, or occasionally sell or trade. A "seasoned" Collector realizes that a Dealer can't afford to buy at retail price with any hope of making a reasonable return on the eventual sale, or to buy something that has less of chance to sell over something that will move more quickly. Again, pure economics at play.
The Investor. This person buys for the sole purpose of buying high-end items with the objective of making a profit. Some people invest in the stock market, others buy art. This person generally does not have depth of knowledge in the art itself, but has a sense of value and future worth. Most Investors purchase from one of the large auction houses, and occasionally from a dealer. To them provenance is everything.
The Inheritance. This person has received a single item or an entire collection from a relative or an estate. This person generally has no clue what the items are and therefore no idea of value. These people generally want to know what something is worth and possibly dispose of the item (s) if the dollars are there. I have almost found it universal that this person over-values what they have and feels the dealer is trying to cheat them by buying the item for pennies and make a fortune on the resale.
If you are interested in knowing what something is worth, please contact me. I do not charge for my opinion. However, I am not a licensed appraiser and therefore will not and cannot provide a formal appraisal. If you do contact me, understand that I will provide you with what I would pay for the item as if it were being offered to me for purchase, even if I have no interest in purchasing that item.
