Byron is right on the money here (below) with respect to art museums.  It
is a serious conflict of interest for an art museum curator to give
appraisals.  IT IS NOT DONE.  We do 'expertising' at the DIA.  Our policy
is that the individual should send a snapshot to the curator (who can
usually tell an awful lot from the snapshot), or an appointment is made
with the curator to bring the object in to have it expertised.  Expertising
means, basically, that the curator will not necessarily *authenticate*, but
will give a non-binding opinion.  All such objects come into the building
on a short term art pass under the owner's signature, which allows the
objects to stay on premises for one week.  The pass clearly indicates that
we will not insure the object on premises.
 
We've tried having an expertising day, it was amazing to see the amount of
treasured junque that came to the museum and the phenomenal amount of staff
time it sucked up (24 curators, 5 registrars, 2 librarians, a couple of
conservators, 4 building maintenance people and a bunch of volunteers.  Of
the 600+ pieces brought in, one was actually rather valuable.  Warm fuzzy
feelings from the public towards the museum though.
 
We get calls all the time for appraisals, callers are always referred the
the International Society of Appraisers or the American Society of
Appraisers.  Either organization can tell them of a specialist in their
local area.  Galleries will also appraise the works of artists in their
'stables'.  Libraries that carry auction catalogs are good sources too
(that's how I found out that my friend's tag sale drawing  for which she
paid $2, was actually worth closer to $3000).
 
>All the institutions I have worked for consider outside appraising to be a
>conflict of interest and a possible legal liability exposure - even if it
>is done on the outside off of museum hours. Basically, you can be in
>business as an appraiser and dealer, or you can work for the museum - your
>choice. I realize that this is frequently different in art museums. I
>prefer to stay out of appraising anyway. Something is worth exactly what
>someone else is willing to pay at that point in time, no more and no less.
 
Suzanne Quigley
Head Registrar
Detroit Institute of Arts
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