Mark C. Grove

Retention Agreement for Professional Expert Analysis & Testimony

Mark — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:31:25 +0000

Appraisers are impartial. We cannot buy anything that we appraise and any property that we appraise cannot be bought in our interest. This means that the appraiser’s spouse is also forbidden to buy what her/his mate has valued, This logic extends to the appraiser’s other family members, too.

But appraising is not all we do. Sometimes we lend our extensive specialized knowledge to others. This is so when we are engaged as an expert witness. As an expert we act as a third party between litigants and are literally oblivious as to the outcome of the contest. Our function in a courtroom drama is to inform the Court. We are there to educate the Judge and jury about whatever it is that we have specialized knowledge in.

To protect ourselves under these often tense circumstances a contract is drawn by the appraiser to which his/her client’s lawyer (advocate) must sign. That’s right, the lawyer is the appraiser’s client, not the litigant. An example of a good Retention Agreement can be found here.

Stieff Sterling Silver Identification

Mark — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:01:11 +0000

Silver has remained strong in this flat economy because investors tend to flee toward the noble metals and blue chip stocks when things get wobbly in the markets. That drawer full of granny’s silver flatware that you have is probably worth a small fortune now because of this tendency. Some flatware and hollowware is worth more than others, it all depends on the maker and the pattern. One of the magical named makers of silver that typically is worth more is Stieff. Check out this great site created by Stieff enthusiast Scott Perkins, www.thestieffcompany.com.

Identify Metalwork From the Arts & Crafts Movement

Mark — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:00:56 +0000

Identification is one of the two primary functions of appraisers; the second is to witness the existence of a property. There’s a great site to help identify one category of personal property that has remained strong even in this weak economy: metalwork from the Arts & Crafts Movement. Metalwork from this period is typically angular, almost art deco in appearance, marked by the maker, and often bears dimples associated with hammer marks. Silver and copper were favorite metals but often pewter, brass, and bronze were used, too. Check out this website obviously created by an expert enthusiast, Paul Somerson, www.chicagosilver.com.

Kentucky Material Culture Index

Mark — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:13:24 +0000

There’s a great website for identifying Kentucky antiques and decorative arts, the Kentucky Online Arts Resource (KOAR). Here’s the introductory paragraph straight from the site’s index page: “Welcome to the Kentucky Online Arts Resource (KOAR), a project of The Speed Art Museum. Launched in April 2006, KOAR provides access to over 800 images of Kentucky’s historic decorative arts, fine arts, folk arts, and design. Here, you can search for images of furniture, silver, ceramics, glass, textiles, paintings, sculptures, and other types of objects made or used by Kentuckians. KOAR further includes artists’ depictions of the state’s cities, towns, landscapes, and citizens. At present, KOAR focuses on Kentucky’s pre-1950 artistic heritage. KOAR is free to use: simply click on the Search KOAR button to begin.”

Buy Art Directly from Artists

Mark — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:00:27 +0000

Ever wonder where really smart art dealers find artists to add to their gallery of artists? Want to bypass the middleman? Want to buy directly from the artist’s themselves? Love art? Gotta buy at least one painting a month or you go into withdrawal? Step into my insanity, if you please. There is a solution for your madness without busting the bank: www.dailypainters.com

Pottery Makers Index

Mark — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:00:26 +0000

If you are a student of art pottery or just have a pot marked by a maker that you’d like to identify, there’s a great website that might be invaluable, Studio Pottery. There you will discover a terrific Index of Potters and everything else there is to know about the world of art pottery, 7300 pages in fact, and growing daily. It’ll be your final destination if you’ve been all over the map trying to find the answers about pottery.

Modernist Furniture

Mark — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:00:44 +0000

Retro, Euro, deco, moderne: words that peak your interest? Ah-huh, thought so. There’s a blog dedicated to presenting visual feasts and in-depth information on all things mid-20th century that will tickle your fancy. Check out Stephen Cole’s excellent blog. He’s put together a stunning visual potpourri of beautiful imagery wrapped in an array of go-to links for all things pleasing to the moderne eye. If simplicity of design is your thing, then Cole’s blog will certainly become one of your favorite places to frequent.

Herman Miller Furniture

Mark — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:00:57 +0000

Herman Miller, Inc., based in Zeeland, Michigan is a long-time American manufacturer of moderne furniture for the office and home. Miller office chairs are legendary collectibles. Not only are they sculpted splendors for the eye, but one’s derrière is just as pleased with the engineering as the eye is with its aesthetics. If you’re about to furnish an office but realize that you have no taste, just buy everything from Herman Miller; your clients will believe you’re a design genius with consummate skills and you’ll be very comfortable in an efficient environment. Concerned that you’re lining the purse of a evil conglomerate bent on destroying the planet? No worries, Miller is considered by its employees as a very cool and friendly place to work and the corporate foresight is aimed sustainability. Learn more about this excellent design manufacturer at Wikipedia or visit The Henry Ford Museum’s Herman Miller Consortium.

Eames Chairs

Mark — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:54:16 +0000

Eames Furniture: RE article: “Charles Eames (1907-78) and Ray Eames (1912-88) gave shape to America’s twentieth century. Their lives and work represented the nation’s defining social movements: the West Coast’s coming-of-age, the economy’s shift from making goods to the producing information, and the global expansion of American culture. The Eameses embraced the era’s visionary concept of modern design as an agent of social change, elevating it to a national agenda. Their evolution from furniture designers to cultural ambassadors demonstrated their boundless talents and the overlap of their interests with those of their country. In a rare era of shared objectives, the Eameses partnered with the federal government and the country’s top businesses to lead the charge to modernize postwar [WWII] America.” Library of Congress.

Art Marketeer Asher Edelman: The Devil Swears Bravado

Mark — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:00:05 +0000

Quarterly Market Report January 2010: Art shark Asher Edelman: What is he? An opportunistic void filler, ruthless provocateur, omniscient genius, reckless buccaneer, …. or a brilliant businessman hacking a path through the dismal swamp of the art market? This story could be spun into a Hollywood movie, or has it already? Read an excellent article by Kelly Crow reporter for the Wall Street Journal’s Arts & Entertainment section. Want to know what’s what in the art world? Read her stories. This gal can write!