Why get an art or antiques appraisal from Dr. Lori?

View our current schedule of art history lectures and antique appraisal programs.

Watch "Ask Dr. Lori" on Comcast CN8 TV's Your Morning the last Friday of every month at 7 am ET as Dr. Lori answers common questions about art and antiques. Watch online from anywhere using CN8 TV's live video feed during the broadcast.

Watch video now of Dr. Lori's past art and antique segments on CBS 3 TV's website.

Dr. Lori's syndicated column on art and antiques appears in the Ann Arbor News, Princeton Packet, Courier-Post, Centre Daily Times, The Herald News, The Daily Record, Lancaster New Era, Trend Leader, Bucks County Herald, Standard-Speaker, Pocono Record, Lock Haven Express, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, The Daily Item, Main Line Times, The Phoenix, Delaware County Daily Times, The Palladium Times, Charlotte Sun, DeSoto Sun, Englewood Sun, North Port Sun, Venice Gondolier Sun, Times Leader, The Capital, Daily Freeman, The Sentinel, and The Daily News Journal newspapers and Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting, Morris Lifestyle, Lehigh-Bucks, Distinctive Properties, Atlantic Ave, Luxury Living, Festivities, and Panorama magazines.

Learn how you can subscribe to these publications and read Dr. Lori's columns.

Learn more about our director, Dr. Lori

Why get an antique appraisal from Dr. Lori?

What is an appraisal?
Why would I need an online appraisal?
Why would I need a certified appraisal?
Why would I need a verbal appraisal?

Internal Revenue Service appraisal/appraiser requirements
Why an appraiser should NOT want to buy your items
NEWS: Art and antique appraisers sent to prison
Comparison chart: Dr. Lori vs. other appraisers

How do I obtain an online appraisal?
How do I obtain a certified appraisal?
How do I obtain a verbal or in-home appraisal?
How far will Dr. Lori travel for an appraisal?

Dr. Lori's background
View Dr. Lori's current appraisal program schedule
Email page to a friend

What is an appraisal?

An appraisal is an informed opinion of value (monetary, cultural, historical, etc.). As with all opinions, its validity depends on the expertise, experience, and educational background of the person providing it. Additionally, the opinion must be independent with the appraiser having no interest in the value (monetary, cultural, historical, etc.) of the item being appraised.

Compare Dr. Lori's background with other appraisers. Learn why Masterpiece Technologies Inc. does not purchase items being appraised which ensures an honest and ethical appraisal for you.

Why would I need an online appraisal?

Many people seek a online appraisal from Dr. Lori to help them:

--	Determine what price I should sell an item for to make sure I do not lose money by letting a $5,000 item sell for $5 at a yard sale or online auction. How do you think people find a $25,000 painting at a garage sale? Somebody puts it out for sale and doesn't know what it's worth!
--	Determine if a seller is asking too much or too little for an item. Is my online auction bid too high for something that is not authentic? Does that antique dealer want too much for a piece that is damaged or a reproduction?
--	Determine if a piece is worth keeping or if I should throw it away.
--	Determine if I should spend additional time and money for a certified appraisal which is needed to properly insure an item. I'll need a certified appraisal to donate my item to a non-profit organization (museum, historical society, library, etc.) to receive my proper tax deduction.
--	Determine additional information about the item such as its history, artist's or maker's background, authenticity, etc. Having information from someone who is qualified like Dr. Lori is often helpful when trying to sell the item, especially in online auctions.

View a sample of one of Dr. Lori's online appraisals.
Note: If the samples appear unreadable, open your browser window as far as you can or click 'Maximize' in the top left corner.

Do other online appraisals provide sales records?

Dr. Lori's online appraisals are based on actual sales records where similar pieces actually sold. Actual sale(s) records including price, location, and date are included in the Online Appraisal document.

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The information contained in this sample is not complete or accurate, it is for example purposes only.

Learn how to obtain an online appraisal from Dr. Lori.

Compare Dr. Lori's background with other appraisers.

Why would I need a certified appraisal?

Many people seek a certified appraisal from Dr. Lori to help them:

--	Properly insure items in case of catastrophic loss. Most insurance companies require a certified appraisal when obtaining a rider on your current home owner's policy to insure works of art and antiques.
--	Properly insure valuable items when moving or transporting. Most insurance companies (and the IRS, learn more) require a physical condition report and value BEFORE any damage is done. It is often too late after the piece is damaged. Dr. Lori's certified appraisals include a current condition report to museum standards.
--	Receive the proper tax deduction when donating items to museums or other non-profit organizations. Learn more about the IRS requirements for documentation and the qualifications expected from an appraiser.
--	Properly plan or settle an estate. Most estate planners are not certified appraisers and cannot determine the accurate value of items. Are you really saving money by not having items properly valued?
--	Settle a divorce. Many times an independent certified appraisal is needed to help with the settlement of property.
--	Determine additional information about the item such as its history, artist or maker's background, authenticity, etc. Having information from someone who is qualified like Dr. Lori is often helpful when trying to sell the item.


page 2 of sample (click image to enlarge)	View a sample of one of Dr. Lori's certified appraisals. page 1 page 2 page 3 The information contained in this sample is not complete or accurate, it is for example purposes only.

Learn how to obtain a certified appraisal from Dr. Lori.

Compare Dr. Lori's background with other appraisers.

Why would I need a verbal appraisal?

Many people seek Dr. Lori's verbal appraisal services to help them:

--	Determine what items to throw away and which ones to keep in large rooms, houses, or estates. This is helpful with a large volume of items when you are downsizing to a smaller home.
--	Determine what items should go to auction and which should go to family members in an estate situation. Many times Dr. Lori is called in before the auctioneers because we are not interested in buying your items (read why this is important). Remember, auctioneers are interested in moving a volume of items and auctions do not always bring the right people to the room to get the highest values. Also, items at auction sell at wholesale prices, NOT retail prices. Plus, you usually pay other fees associated with the sale.
--	Determine what items should go to which family members. Often family members are present during the verbal appraisal process.
--	Determine the value range for one or more items and are just not interested in learning anything else about the items. Dr. Lori's verbal appraisal programs are good for this use.

View Dr. Lori's current verbal appraisal program schedule.

Learn more about our In-Home Verbal Appraisals by Dr. Lori.

We also offer Appraisal Gift Certificates which may be purchased online. Learn more about this great gift idea.

Internal Revenue Service requirements

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires qualified appraisals by qualified appraisers for tax reporting purposes. Dr. Lori is committed to compliance with IRS appraisal standards.

--	Does the appraisal include quotes and sales records to support the stated appraised value?
--	Does the appraisal include the standing of the artist or maker in his or her profession and in the particular school or time period?
--	Does the appraisal outline the current physical condition of the item?

On the IRS website you may view what they require of an appraiser and what needs to be included in an appraisal. The IRS also tells you who cannot be an appraiser. Learn more on the IRS website.

Why an appraiser should NOT want to buy your items

Unlike some certified appraisers, Dr. Lori has a Ph.D. in art history and DOES NOT have an interest in buying people's objects, thus ensuring an honest, ethical, and accurate appraisal and evaluation.

Some appraisers don't want you to know the true value of an object since they are interested in buying the object from you at a much lower price than its actual value. Good business for them, but not for the general public who has no idea what their items are worth. If you don't think this happens, read the story on the FBI's website about appraisers who appeared on a nationally televised appraisal TV show and were sent to prison for this practice.

If you are interested in selling your items, we suggest that you receive an independent appraisal from an unrelated third party. This DOES NOT mean that you should use an appraiser who was referred to you by a prospective buyer. Once you have an independent appraisal, you then have the necessary information you need to protect yourself and properly negotiate when you are selling the item.

Art and antique appraisers sent to prison

NEWS...

Appraisers on TV show indicted!

An antiques dealer located in the Philadelphia, PA area who appeared on the PBS TV series "Antiques Roadshow" was recently sentenced to prison and ordered to payback over $830,000 he made on fraudulent transactions, stealing from museums, and for staging phony appraisals on the PBS TV show.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has chronicled some of the appraiser's fraudulent activities on their website including how the phony appraisal for the TV show was setup as well as other activities including stealing artifacts from museums and providing inaccurate appraisal values. Read more and learn who else was involved on the FBI website. This article is easy to read and helps make you aware of some of the possible antique appraisal scams.

Comparison chart: Dr. Lori vs. other appraisers

Criteria	Dr. Lori	Others
Ph.D.	-Art history from the Penn State University	?
Master's degree:	-Art History from Wesleyan University	?
Bachelor's degree:	-History from the University of Michigan	?
Held teaching positions at:	-Muhlenberg College -Arcadia University -Southern Connecticut University -State University of New York -Albertus Magnus College -Penn State University -Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts	?
Held museum positions at:	-Muhlenberg College -Allentown Art Museum -Palmer Museum of Art -Yale University Art Gallery	?
Selected publications:	-Book: An American Sculptor: Seymour Lipton -several scholarly articles in American Art Review, School Arts, PAEA News, Susquehanna Style, Central Pennsylvania Life, Lehigh Valley Style, Art & Frame Review, New England Antiques Journal, and Chesapeake Home magazines. -regular art and antiques column appears in the following newspapers: Boca Raton News, Ann Arbor News, Princeton Packet, The Herald News, Centre Daily Times, Lancaster New Era, Bucks County Herald, Delaware County Daily Times, Courier-Post, Times Leader, Standard Speaker, Lock Haven Express, Trend Leader, The Daily Item, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, and Main Line Times.	?
Curated exhibitions at:	-Colgate University -University of Wisconsin -Iowa State University -University of Iowa -McNay Museum of Art -Susquehanna Art Museum -Muhlenberg College -Palmer Museum of Art -Hicks Art Center Gallery -Allentown Art Museum	?
Television & radio appearances:	-appears regularly on: Comcast Tonight, and Comcast CN8 TV's Money Matters Today & Your Morning. also has appeared on -CBS 3 TV's Trash or Treasure? - ABC WNEP TV 16's Home & Backyard -Comcast Newsmakers - Treasure HD's Treasure Seekers -Retirement Living TV -WTNH ABC TV 8 -WCAU NBC 10 TV's 10! -WBRE NBC 28 TV -CBS WHP 21 TV -WBFF Fox 45 -WVIA FM 88.9 (NPR) -WDIY FM 88.1 (NPR)	?
Personal appearances:	-more than 100 art history and appraisal programs every year.	?
Hourly rate:	$500 per hour for in-home services	?

How do I obtain an online appraisal?

Read why you need an Online Appraisal from Dr. Lori

1.	Read and accept the online appraisal terms. You will then be directed to our online appraisal form.

2.	Select 'Online Appraisal' on the online appraisal form and complete the form. This provides Dr. Lori with information about your item.

3.	Send an image file or web address which shows an image of the item. Instructions are provided once you complete and submit the online appraisal form.

4.	Dr. Lori will review your information and upon acceptance that she is qualified to appraise your item, we will email you the necessary payment method information.

5.	Upon payment approval, Dr. Lori will proceed with her research. If she requires additional information or images, she will contact you. Once the online appraisal document is completed (within 30 days), we will email the document to the email address that you provided.

View a sample of one of Dr. Lori's online appraisals.

How do I obtain an certified appraisal?

Certified appraisals are used for insurance and donation purposes. Read why you may need a certified appraisal from Dr. Lori.

1.	Contact our offices using this form and provide us with details about your item and if you need a donation or insurance appraisal.

2.	Dr. Lori will review your information and upon acceptance that she is qualified to appraise your item(s), we will email you to discuss the particulars of setting up an appointment to review the item(s) and to provide an estimate on the number of hours it will take to complete the certified appraisal.

View a sample of one of Dr. Lori's certified appraisals.

How do I obtain a verbal or in-home appraisal?

1.	Events by Dr. Lori Do you only have one or a couple of objects that you want Dr. Lori to verbally appraise? We suggest that you attend one of Dr. Lori's antique appraisal programs as cost effective solution. Most venues who host Dr. Lori's programs charge around $10-$15 per item. If the item is too big to carry to an event, you can bring photographs of it for Dr. Lori's review. View Dr. Lori's most current program schedule to see when she will be in your area.

2.	In-Home Verbal Appraisals by Dr. Lori Do you have an entire household of stuff and want Dr. Lori to visit your home to provide verbal appraisals for your objects? Dr. Lori visits your home or your parent�s home providing verbal appraisals for art, antiques, and family heirlooms so you can determine what is trash and what is treasure! Seniors or their children call Dr. Lori when families are downsizing to smaller houses or retirement homes. Families and lawyers contact Dr. Lori BEFORE the antique dealers and auctioneers enter the estate�s home since Dr. Lori does not have an interest in buying your family heirlooms. In our opinion, appraisers should not be dealers, auctioneers, or resellers since this is a conflict of interest--not in your favor! Family members can be present during Dr. Lori�s verbal appraisals. Compare Dr. Lori with other art and antique appraisers. Dr. Lori�s In-home Verbal Appraisals start at $500/hr. Most homes take about 1 hr. Don't have an entire house full of stuff? Join together with friends and family members for an In-home Verbal Appraisal visit in your home and share the cost with them as well. Email us now to get placed onto Dr. Lori's In-Home Verbal Appraisal appointment schedule.

How far will Dr. Lori travel for an appraisal?

Dr. Lori will travel throughout the United States upon request. Dr. Lori often travels from the Washington, D.C. area to the Boston, MA area with some frequency.

If you are willing to work with us to schedule an appointment when Dr. Lori is in your area, no additional travel expenses will be charged.

Please feel free to contact us with your questions.