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Browse: Home / Curriculum Vitae: Mark C. Grove, MA, AAA, ASA, MRICS, Antiques and Art Appraiser

Curriculum Vitae: Mark C. Grove, MA, AAA, ASA, MRICS, Antiques and Art Appraiser

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An experienced accredited personal property appraiser’s curriculum vitae (CV) will reflect 10 to 40 years in-field experience with antiques and art plus certifications from one or more international professional appraisal organizations such as RICS, AAA or ASA. But that is often not enough. A well-rounded appraisal expert will have created a business from scratch, managed people in the workplace, and worked in the antiques and arts marketplace for decades. Also, a nationally accredited personal property appraiser will have published articles in the relevant field, taught appraisal studies courses at the university level, delivered public seminars about material culture topics, and traveled around the world to examine art and antiques exhibits at acclaimed museums, both great and small. Mr. Grove has accomplished all of these qualification measures and he remains current in each area with the exception of commercial activity, from which he is retired. Mr. Grove no longer, buys, sells, collects, or trades; he is completely impartial. RE: YouTube Introduction Video.

Education – Master of Arts

Mark C. Grove (57) was educated at James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) where he earned a BS (1978) and an MA (1983). He acquired additional education at George Washington University (DC) that was taught by ASA instructors of professional appraisal practice and was tested there in appraisal theory, principles of practice, property economics, methodology, and ethics. As a result appraisal reports written by Mr. Grove satisfy the highest standards required by Insurance Underwriters, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Courts. His CV is available in PDF or Word format upon request.

Professional Accreditation – The Highest: AAA, ASA, RICS

The American Society of Appraisers (ASA) requires the highest standards of excellence in the United States and The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has had the highest standards in the world since 1868. Mr. Grove also holds the equivalent rank with the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) which has similar high professional standards. Accredited Senior Appraisers and certified AAA members have five or more years of full-time appraisal experience (10,000+ hours). RICS Members have ten years experience (20,000+ hours). Both ASA and AAA designations require completion of a difficult academic regimen, testing in a specialty, Federal USPAP training and certification, and work examples approved by The International Board of Examiners. In addition, Accredited Senior Appraisers (ASA’s) and Certified Appraisers (AAA’s) must comply with continuing education requirements and be complete refresher training in the American Federal USPAP every two years or face a reduction in rank. To view the typical training sequence for members of ASA, click here.
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Professional Experience and Training – The Best

  • Over 22,000 hours experience appraising.
  • 2011 June 4 &5. PBS TV Maryland Public Television (MPT), The Chesapeake Collectibles Show: Owens Mills, MD. Filmed in-studio.
  • 2011 Ohio Antiques Forum, MAY, 7 CE hours. Identifying mid-western cultural properties.
  • 2011 February 28th. Admitted as Member, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors FYI: Surveyors of value.
  • 2010 June 5 & 6. PBS TV Maryland Public Television (MPT), The Chesapeake Collectibles Show: Owens Mills, MD. Filmed in-studio.
  • 2009 Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Identifying Ceramics – pottery, porcelain, hard paste, soft paste, earthenware including creamware, pearlware, stoneware, faience, distinguishing and comparing construction techniques, clay bodies, glazes, etc. 12 SEP 09 (8hrs).
  • 2009 Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Fundamentals of Ivory Identification, Ivory and Its Lookalikes 11 SEP 09 (5hrs).
  • 2008 ASA re-accreditation completed 22 APR 08 with a total of 302 points (minimum 100 points every five years). USPAP updated 22 APR 08. Professional requirements current for ASA through 18 MAR 2014.
  • 2007 National Expert Witness Conference (SEAK, Inc.), Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA. June 21-22, (14hrs).
  • 2007 Advanced Deposition Skills for Experts (SEAK, Inc.), Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA. June 20, (6hrs).
  • 2007 The Biggest Mistakes Experts Make: And How to Avoid Them (SEAK, Inc.), Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA. June 19, seven hours.
  • 2007 Peer review of two written Appraisal Reports, advancement approved, 2nd Specialty: American Folk Art: MAY 31.
  • 2007 A Day With the IRS: Tax Policy and Legal Changes that Will Affect Your Business Practice, April 27, eight hours.
  • 2006 Proposed to ASA International Board of Governors ASA’s American Folk Art Specialty: was principle writer of two 100 question each Folk Art specialty tests, reading list, and discipline advancement sequence.
  • 2005 The Appraisers Association of America’s (AAA) Board of Examiners reviews and approves three written reports for the purpose of certification as a Certified Member (highest rank). Designation awarded (AAA).
  • 2005 The Winterthur Furniture Forum: Yankee Cabinetmakers, New England Scholarship on Old Furniture. March 3-5, twelve hours of seminars followed by a hands-on workshop on the third day.
  • 2004 Washington Regional Appraisers Forum: The Value of Virginia Pottery Using the Shenandoah Standard presented by H. E. Comstock. (May)
  • 2004 The American Society of Appraisers’ Board of Examiners reviews and approves two written reports for the purpose of accreditation as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (highest rank). Senior designation awarded (ASA), 1st Specialty: Antique Furniture.
  • 2003 Antique Furniture Specialty Test, American Society of Appraisers —Successful (SEP 2003). At this writing, there are only ten (10) appraisers of antique furniture in the United States that are accredited by The American Society of Appraisers.
  • 2003 Submission of work log. The American Society of Appraisers’ Board of Examiners reviews and approves an itemized, chronological work log representing five years of full-time appraisal experience.
  • 2002 Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice fifteen hour course and test. Certificate awarded.
  • 2002 Personal Property Valuation 204: The Legal and Commercial Environment. George Washington University, Washington, DC. Certificate awarded. Three semester hours.
  • 2002 Personal Property Valuation 203: Report Writing. George Washington University, Washington, DC. Certificate awarded. Three semester hours.
  • 2002 Personal Property Valuation 202: Methodology, Research, and Analysis. George Washington University, Washington, DC. Certificate awarded. Three semester hours.
  • 2002 Personal Property Valuation 201: Introduction to Personal Property Valuation. George Washington University, Washington, DC. Certificate awarded. Three semester hours.
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Published Articles, Contributions, Television

Elected Officer

  • Currently serving as First Vice President (2008-2012), Secretary (2008-2012) of the Richmond Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA).
  • Previously held positions: Membership Chair, President (2005-2007).

Seminars Conducted & Teaching Appointments

  • Adjunct Faculty Appointment to New York University (NYU), Fall 2009, 2010, upcoming September 15th 2011; Spring 2011, each for 5 sessions: Appraisal Report Writing. Re-appointed for Spring 2012. Continuing Education, each semester is ten hours in-classroom, in association with the Appraisers Association of America (AAA).
  • 2010 Award: New York University (NYU) School of Continuing and Professional Studies Programs in Arts & Humanities, Appraisal Studies Program, in recognition of teaching and contributions to the appraisal profession.
  • The Function of the Accredited Antiques Appraiser and Distinguishing Age Attributes. At the invitation of the Questers, 14 JUN 06, Old South Antiques in Brownsburg, VA. Seventeen attending, two and one-half hours, pro bono.
  • Introduction to the Antiques Business, Collecting, and the Function of an Appraiser. At the invitation of the St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School Alumni Association Board, 30 JAN 03, Old Town Alexandria, VA. Seventy-eight attending, two hours, pro bono.
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Appraisal Fairs

Chesapeake Collectibles

  • WRHO PBS TV Norfolk Appraisal Fair November 12th 2011.
  • Vitt Law Firm Client Appreciation Event, Charlottesville, VA:September 10th 2011.
  • PBS TV Maryland Public Television (MPT), The Chesapeake Collectibles Show: Owens Mills, MD. Filmed in-studio once again on 3 & 5 June 2011. Program will premier in January 2012, seven solo spotlights: German POW swagger stick, Ernest Albert painting, Bowie knife by Baltimore maker Charles Reinhardt, carriage clock that avoided the Titanic, Span-Am War era patriotic box, four militaria walking sticks, Heinrich Hirt painting.
  • YMCA Appraisal Fair: Farmville, VA. November 2010.
  • Jefferson County Museum: Charles Town, WV. October 2010, 2011.
  • PBS TV Maryland Public Television (MPT), The Chesapeake Collectibles Show: Owens Mills, MD. Filmed in-studio on 5 & 6 June 2010. Program premiered in January 2011 and airs over time, six solo spotlights: antique German doll, US Civil War commemorative dated 1863 cane, Alexandria Virginia ca.1875 fireman’s parade cape, mid Atlantic ca.1875 mustard-colored splint buttocks basket, initialed and dated 1802 dome-top blue-painted Maryland document box with locking side drawer, stoneware crock, opium pipe.
  • Lewis County Annual Antiques Market Fair: Weston, West Virginia June 2008.
  • VFS Private Client List Invitation, Staunton, VA. November 2007.
  • Woodstock Museum: Woodstock, VA. June 2007, 2009.
  • Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum: Gordonsville, VA. August 2006.
  • Scottsville Area Katrina Relief Fund: Scottsville, VA. April 2006.
  • Natural Bridge Appraisal Fair: Natural Bridge, VA. March 2005.
  • The Shenandoah Folk Art Society: Luray, VA. April: 2004, 2005.
  • Charity Appraisals: Omni Hotel, Charlottesville, VA. January: 2003-2007.
  • National Historic Trust: Belle Grove Plantation (VA). November: 2002, 2004, 2005.
  • Habitat for Humanity / Women Built: Woodberry Forest School (VA). April: 2002, 2003.
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Resources and Competencies

  • A large professional reference library of books on antiques, decorative arts, and fine arts.
  • Expertise in accessing and researching the Internet and regional research libraries.
  • Subscriptions to online databases: Ancestry.com, AskArt, ArtFact, P4A, Ancestry.com, ArtCare, FindArtInfo, AntiqueClocksPriceGuide, WorthPoint, ArtNet, Skype, Blackberry Exchange, and other on-line assets.
  • Proficiency in Vista, Word, Excel, WordPress, Picasa, WSFTP-Pro, PDF, and other software programs using both PC and Apple computers, and Blackberry technology.
  • Access to an international network of expert contacts in all property categories.
  • Competent and comfortable using all classes of small firearms and automatic weapons.

Currency – Up to Date

To remain current on prices and market trends, Mr. Grove periodically travels to national level antiques shows, numerous auctions at different market levels, studies domestic and foreign museum exhibits, completes continuing education programs, and adds dozens of books to his extensive topical reference library each year.

Institutional Clients – National

Department of Defense (SecDef, JCS), National Museum of the Marine Corps, The Library of Congress, U.S. President James Madison’s Montpelier, The Exchange Hotel Civil War Museum, The Miller School, BB&T Trust, U.S. Trust, Wachovia Trust, James Madison University, Southern Insurance Company, Holman Moving Systems, McGuire Woods and other law firms in VA, DC, Chicago, and NYC.

Referrals – National and International

The American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the Appraisers Association of America (AAA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), The Supreme Court of the United States, The Donegal Insurance Group, USAA Insurance, U.S. Trust, Wells Fargo (Wachovia) Trust, Bessemer Trust, Allstate®, BB&T Trust, State Farm®, Nationwide®, Erie®, Cabell Insurance, Farmers Insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance, Bankers Insurance, Flather & Perkins, and others.
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Referrals – Law Firms

McGuire Woods; Tremblay & Smith; Armstrong Bristow Farley & Schwarzschild; McArthur Law Firm; Schulte Roth & Zabel; Vitt Law Offices; Richmond & Fishburne Law Firm; Parker, McElwain & Jacobs; McCallum & Kudravetz; Morin & Barkley; and other law firms in VA, DC, Chicago, and NYC.
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Background – Bootstrap to Blue Chip

Mr. Grove is a retired professional dealer of American antique furniture, Americana, folk art, stoneware, redware, yellowware, quilts, art, books, rugs, and numerous other classes of antiques for over twenty-five years. In addition to operating a storefront with a large upscale inventory, he has sold antiques at regional and National level shows (collateral experience) from The Pier in New York City to The Heart of Country Show in Nashville Tennessee and many points in between.

  • Presently divides his time between homes in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Fairfax, Virginia, with his Peruvian wife, Chany. Interests: travel, reading, cooking, dancing, fine dining, writing nonfiction and fiction, oil painting, art appreciation, wine appreciation.
  • 1979-2004 Antiques dealer: owner/operator of 5000 square foot upscale storefront operations, local and long-haul antiques fairs exhibitor, owner/operator of 5000 square foot upscale antiques center with exhibitors from 13 states, repair and restoration of furniture and lighting, researcher and appraiser.
  • 1984-1987 US Army Ordnance Officer (1st Lieutenant(P)), depot-level maintenance, Army Commendation Medal; antiques business owner.
  • 1981-1983 Masters of Arts Degree (December) from JMU, on G.I. Bill; antiques business owner.
  • 1979-1980 General Electric exempt employee, customer service International Accounts EVC; antiques business owner.
  • 1976-1978 Bachelors of Science Degree (August) from JMU, on G.I. Bill.
  • 1972-1976 US Air Force Sergeant, aero-medic (A90150): Dover Air Force Base & Ramstein Air Base.
  • 1972 Madison County High School, Madison, VA. Grew up on Spring Hill Farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia reading, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.
  • 1954 Born 29 September in England. Dual national: US (passport) / UK (passport). Member of the  EU and the Commonwealth of Nations.
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