Overcoming Barriers New Perspectives for Challenging Comparables Generalist

Overcoming Barriers: New Perspectives for Challenging Comparables Generalist Instructors Mickey Logan, ISA CAPP (AFDA ) Carol Matesic ISA AM (AFDA and Estate Sales)

How do you find comparables for unique items? A train station bench, circa 1930 s small Texas depot – no documentation acknowledging original location of this bench; purchased at auction in the 1960 s Measures: 34” tall x 48 ½” deep x 116” long. A large Mahogany two piece Perfume store display Lower cabinet: 112” long x 34” tall x 8 ½” deep. Upper cabinet 41” tall x 112” long x 8” deep. This is clearly a one of a kind fixture removed from a defunct perfumery business.

Thinking outside the “Bench” • No similar benches were found at the time I did this appraisal for an estate several years ago. • I used church pews as a similar comparison. $50 -400 range • However, this one with seats on both sides and over 9’ long would be difficult to find another suitable location – it worked well in this large game room on a TX ranch. • I valued it at $300. Since then – this one was found posted on liveauctioneers – it is similar but without the seat dividers. It sold for $272 w/premium.

Upper Perfume cabinet – Narrow glass shelves, mirrored backs

Lower Perfumery cabinet – mirrored back, glass shelves and doors.

Perfume store display This was an unusual and large item taking an entire wall (9’ long). However, I knew that many collectors of small items/glass would like this to display their collections. Researched store liquidation and salvage sales: Pharmacy and soda fountain stores and a sheet music store with narrow fixtures Didn’t find one quite as unique so added a 20% premium to the most similar one found that sold and valued it at $2600. The country store cabinet pictured here sold at $2124 w/premium. FYI: This piece stayed in the family.

3 Venetian ducks of the “Ambrati” series by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso circa 1956 Only actual sold comparable found: • Christies 30 Nov 2000, New York • Single 7 3/4” Duck Estimate USD 4, 000 - USD 6, 000 • Price realized USD 9, 400 (Inc premium) 6 ¾”, 9” tall and 7 ¾” How do you compute an insurance value 16 years later?

1. What other Barovier pieces have sold more recently? Circa 1940 Conch shell is currently offered by S&A Art Glass for $3999. 00 Circa 1960 s ducks sold by Modern Décor for $2500 for a Pair 10” and 9” in 2015

2. What similar Venetian glass artist could we compare? Bianconi for Venini • Pair of Lattimo glass Bianconi Ducks 1954 Sold Jan 9, 2012 sold $2500 (inc. premium) Wright Lot 0238 1954 Lattimo Biancono ducks sold LA Modern. Auctions Lot 0378 Oct 13, 2013 for $1530.

What value would you compute for the 3 ducks as a grouping based on this info? a. $2295 based on $765 each piece Lattimo Biancono ducks b. $3750 based on $1250 each piece recent sales? These were not the same ducks. c. $28, 200 based on one identical sold at $9400 in 2000? d. $12, 000 based on $4000 as Barovier conch shell is offered x 3? e. Some other computation?

Shadow Box framed paper toy soldiers:

Late 19 th Century paper soldiers • Reproduction books of these soldiers can be purchased for around $20 a set. • Antique uncut sheets can be bought for $200 -300. • But this particular group had belonged to a grandparent and had been expensive to mount and frame. Would someone want another family’s keepsake toys? How would you compute a FMV?

The Case of the The Invisible Donation

398 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $305. 00 399 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $125. 00 400 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $295. 00 401 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $400. 00 402 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $275. 00 403 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $260. 00 404 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $260. 00 405 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $275. 00 406 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $345. 00 407 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $75. 00 408 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $50. 00 409 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $120. 00 410 07/22/2015 HOME ACCESSORIES $70. 00 411 07/22/2015 Home Accessories $75. 00 412 07/22/2015 Home Accessories $50. 00 413 07/22/2015 Home Accessories $120. 00 414 07/28/2015 Candle $25. 00

06/23/2015 OSCAR DE LA RENTA Scarf OSCAR DE LA RENTA $75. 00 06/23/2015 Scarf $35. 00 06/23/2015 Scarf $20. 00 06/23/2015 OSCAR DE LA RENTA Scarf OSCAR DE LA RENTA $75. 00 06/23/2015 LULU B. Size M White Blouse White, Size M, LULU B. $20. 00 06/23/2015 DESIGNER Size M White Blouse White, Size M, DESIGNER 06/23/2015 Scarf 06/25/2015 Bracelet $15. 00 $20. 00 $1, 495. 00 06/25/2015 Earrings $225. 00 06/25/2015 Earrings $95. 00 06/25/2015 Earrings $295. 00 06/25/2015 Necklace $249. 00 06/25/2015 Earrings $419. 00 06/25/2015 Earrings $295. 00 06/25/2015 Ring $179. 00 06/25/2015 Pendant 06/25/2015 Necklace $259. 00 $325. 00 06/25/2015 Necklace $30. 00 06/25/2015 Bracelet 1 $35. 00 06/25/2015 Earrings 2 $40. 00

07/09/2015 Necklace 155 $25. 00 07/09/2015 BRACELET 156 $35. 00 02/18/2015 DESIGNER Black Hat Black, DESIGNER 07/10/2015 FLOOR LAMP $36. 00 $259. 00 07/10/2015 BRONZE SCULPTURE $5, 500. 00 07/10/2015 ROCKING HORSE $395. 00 07/13/2015 Bracelet 74 $12. 00 07/13/2015 Bracelet 75 $12. 00 07/13/2015 Bracelet 76 $10. 00 07/13/2015 Earrings 147 $15. 00 07/13/2015 CAROLEE Necklace 151 07/13/2015 Earrings 210 CAROLEE $24. 00 $10. 00

1922 ITEMS

Photographs

How Do You Approach this Appraisal? (Remember it is for IRS) Do you turn it down? Can someone else do it better? Can you find comparables?