Inventory/Documentation
A residential inventory includes an itemized record of residential contents, ranging from general contents to fine and decorative arts. Asset Archives Contents Specialist captures digital images on-site and record available and relevant information. In addition pertinent documents (i.e. invoices, receipts, appraisals, artist resumes, documents pertaining to the provenance; etc.) that are made available to AAI will be digitized and entered into the comprehensive inventory.
Appraising
Asset Archives has built a team of professional experts that can address the appraisal of any collection regardless of its diversification or complexity. The knowledge of the experts on our team encompasses multiple specialties, including many genres of fine art, decorative arts, jewelry, wine, and classic cars. Our appraisers are typically certified with one of the major governing bodies such as ASA, ISA, NAJA or AAA1 and act in compliance with USPAP2 standards. This helps ensure that the work is completed according to the standards and ethical guidelines of those professional organizations, and establishes credibility in a claims process, in a court of law or for taxation purposes.
For each appraisal, our appraiser visits the location to physically inspect the items that are being valued. This is an essential step for the appraiser to verify the condition of the item for accuracy, and to establish credibility in the event of a claim. Jewelry appraisals are conducted in the same manner, where the appraiser brings their gemological lab to the client's residence and inspects each piece onsite.
The value utilized in the formal appraisal document is dependant upon the purpose of the appraisal. Replacement values are used for insurance purposes, and are based on the cost to replace an item with a similar piece in the event of a loss in a retail or other appropriate market.
Fair market value is the actual value of a piece on the secondary market if it were sold at auction or through a private sale between a willing buyer and a willing seller. This type of appraisal is frequently used for estate planning purposes (probate and gifting, e.g.), or de-accession. Each type of appraisal is performed using the best resources available to give the client the most appropriate and relevant information they need to facilitate their objectives.
Fine Arts Advisory and Collection Management Services
Asset Archives provides Art Advisory and Collection Management Services, which include Loss Prevention Guidance, Schedule Analysis and Collections Development, and Curatorial Guidance.
In Loss-Prevention, our curatorial experts establish pro-active steps the client can take towards preventing a loss by identifying at-risk assets, consulting on disaster preparedness planning, and facilitating conservation and restoration.
Collection Management includes a Schedule Analysis of scheduled assets to determine any indication of gaps in coverage, Market Analysis by genre and/or artist to alert the client to relevant changes in the marketplace, and Provenance Research and Development.
AAI also advises on the physical maintenance and display of the collection through our Collection Management team, including shipping and storage, catalogue publications, and curating private/corporate exhibitions.
Personal Collections Management Platform:
Each client receives an Asset Archive™ complete with all information pertaining to the assets within the identified project in two formats:
Hard Copy Portfolio is composed of digital images, detailed comprehensive reports and instructions for viewing the archive and appraisal report.
Electronic Format for the ease of managing, sharing and updating the information, delivered via a CD-Rom or through a secure web based solution.
Click here to view a sample demo
of the electronic version.