616 Rotunda Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44333
(330) 576-6189

 
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We conduct appraisals in our areas of expertise: American antique furniture and decorative arts of the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  Appraisals are typically for insurance and estate purposes.  But on occasion we are asked to determine current values for the division of property in a divorce or to ensure that the antiques will be divided equally among the heirs to an estate.  We do not do appraisals for tax deductibility purposes.  Our appraisal fees are based on an hourly rate for time spent on the project.

We attend a number of auctions each year from Ohio to the eastern seaboard, and we are frequently asked by customers to check out an item or two they may be interested in.  This is a time consuming process, so we charge a small predetermined fee to examine each item at the auction house and report back by phone about authenticity, condition and real worth.  The service can end there with no further action required on our part.  The customer’s cost is the aforementioned small fee, and the client does whatever he or she wants to in the way of bidding, paying for the item, getting it delivered, etc.

More frequently, however, people want us to bid on the item(s) on their behalf.  We do this for a fee of 10% of the hammer price.  After our examination we will discuss in advance the factors mentioned above, and determine how much we are authorized to bid.  If we are the successful bidder, we will pay for the item, and remove it from the auction house for subsequent delivery to the client.  If we do not buy the piece because the hammer price was higher than our authorized amount, the customer’s cost, again, is the predetermined examination fee.

We own almost everything we offer for sale.  However, on rare occasions we will take an item on consignment if that seems to be the best approach for all concerned.    We charge a commission when the item is sold.   Advertising expenses are paid by the consignor, and if the item does not sell and is returned to the consignor, we charge a small fee to cover handling and insurance expenses.  Each consignment is different, so please contact us to discuss what it is you want to sell, the minimum amount you think you need to realize from the sale, the selling commission percentage, etc.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more details about any of these services.