Museums and public institutions require appraisals for purposes ranging from acquisition assessment to deaccessioning, insurance documentation to gift substantiation. The standards are exacting — institutional governance demands defensible methodology, and valuations supporting tax deductions face potential IRS scrutiny.

We work directly with museums on valuation matters and with donors providing non-cash charitable contributions to institutional collections.
Institutional Engagements

For potential acquisitions, we provide independent valuation assessing whether proposed purchase prices reflect current market conditions. This analysis supports acquisition committee deliberations and documents due diligence for institutional records.

For deaccessioning, we prepare appraisals establishing fair market value for works being considered for sale, providing the documentation required under institutional policy and professional guidelines.

For collection documentation and insurance, we prepare valuations supporting coverage decisions and risk management. Institutional collections present particular challenges — works that rarely if ever appear at auction, unique objects with limited comparables, and holdings acquired over decades with varying levels of documentation. Charitable donations of artwork valued at more than $5,000 require a qualified appraisal by a qualified appraiser under IRS regulations. For gifts valued at $20,000 or more, a complete copy of the appraisal must be attached to the donor's tax return. Donations exceeding $50,000 may be submitted to the IRS Art Advisory Panel for review.

We prepare qualified appraisals for donors contributing works to museum collections, providing the documentation required for IRS compliance on Form 8283. We also prepare valuations for donations subject to Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB) certification, working directly with institutions including the National Gallery of Canada.

In recent years, we have appraised major artworks donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Gallery of Canada, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and other leading museums, academic institutions, and libraries. We understand the governance frameworks and documentation standards that institutional appraisals require. Our reports are prepared to support board deliberations, satisfy audit requirements, and withstand external scrutiny.

To discuss how we might work with your institution, contact us directly.