African Art Appraisers: How to choose

Africa In Atlanta's Guide To African Art Appraisal: Anyone considering having an object or collection appraised, is highly recommended to seek the advice of an appraiser who is certified by a professional organization. No one human being can be an expert in all the highly specialized venues that appear in the area of African Art. Nothing substitutes for experience and expert judgment. Even the most "highly qualified appraiser" may need to consult with and quote judgments by one or more specialized experts depending on the piece, its origin, and its provenance. The issues of the condition of the object and its provenance require similar expertise. Note also that even replicas have value and in some cases, the value of replicas can be significant and also requires expert judgment.

The appraiser's opinion is never more valid than the facts on which it is based; without these facts it is simply a guess. Thus the facts about comparable values and sales should be clearly stated in written appraisals no matter what is the source. The value of the appraiser to his client is highly dependent on the appraiser's skill and diligence in digging out information on comparables once the task of identification and condition determination has been completed.

No appraisal should be considered as a form of guarantee as to what an object would sell for at public auction or on the open market. The market changes with the economy, with new purchasers entering the field and others bowing out, and for many other reasons. Practically every auction of tribal art contains objects that sell for many multiples of their high estimate and other objects that do not meet minimal reserves, or sell for a quite low number. The fact that two or three similar objects sold within a price range in the recent past is not to be considered an assurance that the similar object that is being appraised will sell in the same price range.

It is up to the client to choose an appraiser who is well matched to the complexity of the task. If you want an appraisal for purposes of a charitable donation and a tax deduction is desired, it is appropriate to choose an appraiser who has adequate skill and experience for this task.

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