Burke & Co. Fine Art Consultants, based St. Petersburg, Florida, provides valuation and collections management services to businesses, individuals and museums.
We are fine art museum professionals trained in appraisal services from the Appraisal Institute of America. With extensive experience working with museum collections, we specialize in research and preservation of all types of artwork. This makes us uniquely qualified to identify, document, research and value decorative and fine art with a broad approach to the larger context of art history and the current art market. Our network of museum professionals and other specialty appraisers across the country provide identification and authentication assistance, for even the most unique collection.
Services Provided
Valuing collections is more than just browsing auction databases. As museum professionals, we approach every work with an eye to the importance (considering the larger context to the artist's body of work), condition, quality, rarity, desirability (scholarship), and provenance (ownership history). Understanding the full scope of an individual artwork ensures the most accurate appraisal possible.
In addition to valuation, we provide documentation and preservation services to protect the long-term investment of artwork ensuring every work retains its highest value possible. We help businesses, collectors and museums develop a plan for display, create storage solutions and even develop disaster/emergency plans. Preservation and documentation are important components of legacy planning.
Who needs an appraisal?
Typically, individuals and institutions seek appraisal services for estate planning, insurance coverage (blanket and itemized policies), charitable contribution (museum donation) or when considering a potential sale or deaccession.
The market for artwork changes often. It is advisable to update an appraisal every few years to ensure adequate insurance coverage, or when working with an estate planner to properly account for the full value of a collection in consideration of estate and inheritance taxes.
What to know when choosing an appraiser
The Burke & Co. staff are accredited members of the Appraisers Association of America and are Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice complaint. USPAP is a congressionally authorized standard for appraisers.