The authority in African art appraisal

Richard Moss founded African Art Appraiser with a singular mission: to bring rigorous, culturally informed expertise to the appraisal and authentication of African art. His deep knowledge spans the full breadth of African artistic traditions — from the carved ancestral figures of the Cameroon Grasslands to the bronze castings of Benin, from Dogon sculpture to Kuba textiles.

Richard's approach combines traditional connoisseurship — understanding tool marks, patina development, stylistic conventions, and cultural context — with modern scientific methods including carbon-14 dating, thermoluminescence testing, and X-ray fluorescence analysis.

Every appraisal is treated as both a scholarly investigation and a client service engagement. Richard believes that understanding the cultural significance of a piece is inseparable from determining its market value — and that every collector deserves honest, defensible answers.

African art has been systematically undervalued for decades — dismissed as "craft" or "artefact" rather than recognized as the profound artistic tradition it represents. As the global art market corrects this historical bias, accurate appraisal and authentication become more important than ever.

We exist to serve as a trusted authority in this space — providing collectors, families, institutions, and legal professionals with expert opinions backed by deep cultural knowledge, scientific rigor, and current market intelligence.

Our commitment is to honesty, accuracy, and respect for the cultural heritage embodied in every piece we examine.