Appraisals
Whether for a single item or an entire estate, Soustelle Art Advisory provides reliable and cost-efficient appraisals backed by proven specialist expertise for private individuals, collectors, and service professionals who need to determine the value of their antiques and other art assets.
We strive to be a trustworthy source of information to help clients nationwide manage financial risk.
Certified appraisals for various uses
An Accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, Olivier Soustelle prepares confidential, formal written appraisals that follow IRS and USPAP guidelines for cases involving:
- Insurance coverage
- Liquidation of art assets
- Damage and loss claims
- Charitable contributions
- Family divisions
- Anticipated purchase
- Loan collateral
- Other estate planning purposes
Our clients include private individuals, collectors of art and antiques, fiduciaries (attorneys, trust officers and executors), claims adjusters, estate planners, and financial and insurance professionals.
For more comprehensive advice, please see our Consulting Services.
A specialist provides peace of mind.
Why leave it to chance?
Soustelle Art Advisory Appraisal services boast a faster turnaround, ensuring a more cost-effective process for the client without compromising on quality.
With fine antiques expertise and specialized knowledge of French period furniture and decorative arts, Soustelle Art Advisory is uniquely positioned to provide appraisals that guarantee accuracy, in a field where the ability to evaluate authenticity and condition are paramount and can impact value greatly.
Unlike the average appraiser who is only acquainted with general residential content and basic collecting areas, specialist appraiser Olivier Soustelle gives his undivided attention to an area of expertise that underpins rare, comprehensive connoisseurship, ensuring proper identification, assessment of condition, and evaluation of rarity for every art valuation.
Olivier Soustelle’s superior product and market knowledge in the specialty field are the result of a disciplined endeavor involving years of Post-Graduate research, culminating in a Master of Arts degree, and positions held at a leading worldwide auction house and the renowned J. Paul Getty Museum. Today, the study of European decorative arts — those of France in particular — remains the main focus of Soustelle Art Advisory.
For publications by the expert on French antiques, see Articles.
The appraisal — a transparent process
Soustelle Art Advisory prepares detailed, formal written appraisal reports that follow IRS and USPAP guidelines and include high-quality photographs for each object. The fee structure, discussed with the client during the initial contact, includes an on-site inspection of antiques and other objets d’art followed by market analysis, research, and the final written report.
Early in the appraisal process, Soustelle Art Advisory will quote the projected cost of the appraisal to ensure that clients are thoroughly informed about all costs before work begins, including fees for travel time (when necessary), on-site inspection, document preparation, rush service, and postage. Our clients always know what their final costs will be.
Finally, specialist appraiser Olivier Soustelle offers his service as an expert witness for litigation support.
The ethical appraiser and your interests
If a large estate includes material requiring specialized knowledge in a variety of fields, Olivier Soustelle’s strong ethics drive him to collaborate with trusted experts in these fields to complete appraisals in a timely fashion.
In these situations, Olivier Soustelle draws on a network of specialists and member appraisers of professional organizations and diligently oversees the process to insure that his requirements for the appraisals are met.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
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