Art Appraisals

I am based in Toronto and provide art appraisals across Canada. I have completed the International Society of Appraisers core course, and in many cases I do not need to see the painting or object in person.

For most art appraisal services, the first step is always images. If you would like your collection appraised, the most straightforward route is to provide clear photos of each piece (phone images are usually fine).

After an initial call and image review, I provide a no-charge estimate and I will tell you if a formal appraisal is unlikely to be cost-effective in your case.

If you cannot take images, I can do a house visit to photograph items. House visits are billed at $225 / hr onsite. An alternative is a Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype call where I guide image capture by video.

Once I have the necessary information and images, I research each piece and prepare a written report to industry standards that can be used for insurance, estate, legal, tax, or distribution purposes. Research typically takes between 30 minutes and 4 hours per piece depending on available comparable sales data.

Current turnaround time is about one week for fewer than 10 pieces and around two weeks for 10 to 25 pieces. Larger collections are scoped case by case.

My rates are $225 / hr for appraisal work, with a 1-hour minimum billing. For auction sales management, my fee is 4% of the hammer price with no upfront fee; I invoice after sale proceeds are received.

More Details On Art Appraisal Services In Canada

I have worked in the auction industry for several years, including for Sotheby's and Waddington's Auctioneers and Appraisers. I have relationships across major Canadian auction houses and help clients decide the right path for sale.

The first step is to send images. I can then estimate likely auction fit and identify appropriate venues. Depending on your needs, I can either provide referral-only guidance or fully manage the sale process.

If we proceed with full management, I negotiate sale format (live or online), auction timing, reserve prices, seller's commissions, and additional fees (for example photography), and I coordinate shipping/logistics.

The sales process can be long, often 3-6 months depending on auction calendars. Higher-value works may require longer timelines to reach the most suitable sale.

I do not charge for management unless your piece(s) sell. If they do, my fee is 4% of the hammer price and is invoiced only after proceeds are received.

Detailed Art Consignment Process