How to Build Your Foundation at Assets 2017

Maureen S. Winer, ISA CAPP

This year, our theme for Assets is “The Architecture of Appraising: Building on a Solid Foundation.” We chose this theme because any successful career in appraising starts with a strong base of knowledge.

With that in mind, we have designed our Assets 2017 program to give you the essential basics you need for your business as well as an in-depth look at crucial topics.

I've highlighted some of our planned programming below, but be sure to visit our mobile-friendly site to view full session descriptions and speaker bios. And if you haven't yet registered, do so now! Trust me; you don't want to miss it.

Saturday Programming Highlights

On Saturday, April 1, our program will focus on current trends in the appraisal business, including how technology has vastly increased opportunities for buying and selling works. In the morning, Evan Beard of the US Trust (and formerly a U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer) will give an overarching perspective on how millennials, Gen-Xers, baby boomers and millionaires are affecting global markets. Later in the day, Pip Deely of the art startup CollectorIQ will speak on the latest in apps, databases and imaging tools that can enhance the appraisal process and keep you up-to-date in your business.

The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, home of Assets 2017

Part of understanding current trends in appraising is building a career while dealing with the challenges of the current art ecosystem and beyond. On Saturday, a panel of experts from Chubb Personal Risk Services, the Estate Planning Law Group and the Art Institute of Chicago will dive deeper into receiving referrals from and building relationships with gatekeepers from the insurance, estate and museum industries.

With Joshua Kaufman, ESQ, an expert on art law, we will discuss fakes, forgeries and when to connect with a lawyer on issues of provenance and authenticity.

Sunday Programming Highlights

As we progress to Sunday’s educational programming, we will focus on building skills like appraising an archive, which ISA’s own Leila Dunbar will guide us through in the morning. She’ll note the types of organization, methodology and valuation needed for such a project, as well as how to work with archivists, curators, and collectors.

For an invaluable exploration of the basics of the appraisal business, Sanjay Kapoor of ISA will moderate a panel of ISA CAPPs, Perri Guthrie, Judith Martin and Diane Marvin, who will answer your how-to questions as well as share their experiences and best practices.

ISA member panel (clockwise from left):
Perri Guthrie, ISA CAPP, Judith Martin, ISA CAPP,
moderator Sanjay Kapoor, and Diane Marvin, ISA CAPP

Sunday will conclude with a number of breakout sessions exploring topics related to Antiques, Furnishings + Decorative Arts, Fine Art and appraising in general even further.

In the Antiques, Furnishings + Decorative Arts category, Alexander Eblen of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will discuss authenticity issues in jewelry and timepieces, and Libby Holloway, ISA CAPP, and Jacqueline Snyder, ISA AM, will dive into a lecture on finding comparable items when the item you are appraising is unique, has no market, or the artist is unknown.

Those interested in Fine Art can hear Professor Henry Adams speak on art forgery, and Meredith Meuwly, ISA CAPP, and Lisa Lowy, ISA AM, will give a similar comparables lecture to the Fine Art crowd.

View our full session descriptions and speaker bios.

Maureen S. Winer, ISA CAPP