Categories of deep expertise, anchored by formal credentialing as a CAGA-certified Personal Property Appraiser — not clipboard pricing. Each category handled with the research and market knowledge the estate deserves.
Every category below is approached the same way — research first, attribution before pricing, and market data informing every valuation decision. As a CAGA-credentialed Certified Personal Property Appraiser through the Certified Appraisers Guild of America, Bill applies USPAP-compliant methodology to the estate's significant categories — producing documentation suitable for IRS Form 706, equitable distribution, insurance scheduling, and estate records.
All jewelry valuations are performed by a CAGA-credentialed Certified Personal Property Appraiser using current auction comparables and live spot pricing for precious metals.
From signed Cartier and Van Cleef to Georgian mourning jewelry and Art Deco platinum, fine jewelry requires a level of expertise that general estate sale companies rarely bring.
A signed piece from a notable maker and an unsigned piece of similar appearance can differ by thousands of dollars in value. Period attribution matters. Metal content matters. Stone quality, cutting style, and hallmarks all matter. We research maker, period, condition, and current market before pricing anything — using live auction comparables and active dealer data, not price guides from three years ago.
Bill is actively pursuing GIA gemological credentials. Gemstone identification, grading assessment, and market pricing are conducted with reference to current professional standards.
Coin collections are among the most commonly undervalued assets in estate sales. What appears to be a jar of old coins can contain pieces worth hundreds — or thousands — of dollars each.
General estate sale companies frequently price coin collections by face value, or hand the entire collection to a single buyer at a fraction of its actual worth. We approach numismatic collections as specialists: identifying individual coins, referencing grading standards, and structuring lots to maximize recovery for the estate.
High-value pieces are routed appropriately — to auction, to specialty dealers, or to collectors — rather than sold in a single weekend sale at a fraction of their value.
American, English, and Continental period antiques — furniture, decorative arts, folk art, and the longstanding collections that often anchor an estate.
We identify period, attribute makers, research provenance, and price using current market data before recommending the right sales path for the estate.
Porcelain, jade carvings, bronzes, lacquerware, hardwood furniture, and Asian decorative arts require period identification, attribution research, and an understanding of current collector market dynamics.
Chinese antiques are among the most technically demanding categories in estate sales. Period attribution — distinguishing a Ming period piece from a later reproduction, or identifying the dynasty of a porcelain form — requires specialized knowledge that most estate sale companies do not possess. We bring that knowledge, along with an understanding of the current global collector market for Chinese and Asian works of art.
Chanel, Balenciaga, Halston, Pucci — vintage couture demands authentication, condition expertise, and access to the right buyer network. It deserves more than a rack and a price tag.
The vintage luxury apparel market has matured significantly. Serious collectors and dealers are actively seeking authenticated, well-documented pieces from notable houses. Condition, label attribution, period, and provenance all affect value materially. We handle designer apparel with the care and knowledge it deserves — identifying, documenting, and presenting each piece appropriately.
Tiffany Studios, Steuben, Lalique, Murano — the art glass market rewards proper attribution.
We identify maker, period, and condition grade before pricing, and connect significant pieces with serious collectors and dealers.
Rookwood, Weller, Roseville, Newcomb, Van Briggle, Grueby — American and European art pottery is a distinct collector market that rewards careful attribution.
We identify artist marks, glaze periods, and forms before pricing.
Sterling versus silver-plate. Gold alloy identification. Maker marks and hallmarks. Melt value versus collector value. Accuracy here protects families and estate records.
Precious metal holdings in estates are frequently misidentified or mispriced — silver-plate mistaken for sterling, gold-filled pieces confused with solid gold, and unmarked items dismissed without analysis. We conduct thorough identification and melt value analysis, distinguishing between melt value and collector value for maker-identified and period pieces.
Artist identification, signature verification, market research, and auction referral when appropriate. Your estate's art handled with the gravity it deserves.
Fine art in estates ranges from regional works of modest value to signed prints, works on paper, and original paintings of significant collector interest. We approach each piece with research — identifying artists, verifying signatures, and researching auction records — before determining the appropriate venue and pricing strategy. High-value works are referred to auction specialists when that path serves the estate best.
Provenance research, period identification, and high-end resale routing. Not every fine piece belongs in a weekend sale — we know the difference.
Designer and antique furnishings require period identification, construction analysis, and an understanding of the current resale market to price correctly. We identify period American and European furniture, designer pieces, and architectural antiques — and route high-value furnishings to the appropriate buyers: dealers, decorators, and auction houses capable of realizing full value.
The specialty collections that often define an estate — assembled over decades, sometimes overlooked by general estate sale companies, and frequently the highest-value component of what we are asked to handle.
We research, attribute, and route significant collections in virtually any field.
A brief consultation costs nothing. If your estate includes any of these categories, we would welcome a conversation.
Request a Consultation