Insurance appraisals
Determine appropriate replacement value for insurance coverage. We provide detailed, USPAP-compliant reports accepted by all major insurance carriers.
Appraisal services
Professional African art appraisals
Comprehensive valuation services for masks, sculptures, textiles, bronzes, beadwork, ceramics, and ceremonial objects from across the African continent. Every appraisal is USPAP-compliant and backed by deep cultural expertise.
What we offer
Appraisal services tailored to your needs.
Whether you are insuring a single piece, settling an estate, or planning a charitable donation, we deliver accurate, defensible valuations grounded in expert knowledge.
Estate & tax valuations
Fair market value appraisals for estate planning, inheritance, IRS compliance, and equitable distribution. Accepted by the IRS and courts nationwide.
Fair market value
Current market valuation for buying, selling, or understanding the worth of your African art. Based on comparable auction results and dealer records.
Charitable donation
IRS-qualified appraisals for tax-deductible gifts of African art to museums and cultural institutions. Required for donations valued over $5,000.
Loss & damage claims
Assess the value of lost or damaged objects and quantify diminution in value. Expert reports for insurance claims and legal proceedings.
Collection advisory
Strategic guidance for building, managing, and de-accessioning African art collections. Cataloguing, inventory, and acquisition consulting.
Our process
How an appraisal works, step by step.
Initial consultation
Share photos and any known history of your piece. We will provide a preliminary assessment and recommend the appropriate appraisal path — at no charge.
Physical examination
Our appraiser examines the piece first-hand, taking measurements and noting condition, materials, construction techniques, tool marks, and patina characteristics.
Research & analysis
We identify the piece's cultural origin, style, and probable date through comparative analysis. If needed, we coordinate scientific testing — carbon-14 dating, thermoluminescence, or XRF analysis.
Market valuation
We search auction databases, dealer records, and private sale data to find comparable pieces that have sold recently, establishing an accurate fair market value.
Formal report
You receive a detailed, USPAP-compliant written report including photographs, description, provenance findings, market analysis, and our professional valuation opinion.
What we appraise
African art across all traditions and media.
Masks & headdresses
Initiation masks, helmet crests, face masks, and elaborate beaded masks from Bamileke, Bamum, Dan, Punu, Fang, Dogon, and dozens more traditions.
Sculptures & figures
Ancestral figures, royal portraits, reliquary guardians, power figures (nkisi), and decorative carvings in wood, stone, ivory, and metal.
Bronze & metal work
Benin bronzes, Igbo Ukwu castings, Ashanti gold weights, copper alloy figures, and iron ritual objects created with the lost-wax (cire-perdue) technique.
Textiles & beadwork
Kente cloth, Ndop royal display cloth, Kuba raffia textiles, Maasai beadwork, and ceremonial garments and regalia.
Ceramics & pottery
Nok terracottas, Djenne ceramics, traditional vessels, and figurative pottery from across West, Central, and East Africa.
Royal & ceremonial objects
Thrones, stools, staffs, pipes, vessels, game boards, and other prestige objects from royal courts and religious societies.
Ready to begin?
Request a free preliminary assessment.
Send us photos of your piece along with any known history. We will respond with an initial assessment and recommend the right appraisal path.