NEW YORK, NY.- The heartbeat of the art market can be summed up in a single question: What’s it worth? A new guide on appraising will help to answer this eternal question. Published by the Appraisers Association of America, Appraising: The Definitive Guide to Valuing Fine Art, Decorative Arts & Collectibles, Volume 2 (September 15, 2024) covers topics from connoisseurship and appraisal methodology to legal considerations. The invaluable guide is currently the only one of its kind on the market and surveys key genres of the art market.


Daderot, Relief Plaque, Edo, Benin, Nigeria, 16th–17th century, brass. Rautenstrauch Joest Museum.

The 320-page, color-illustrated book covers all aspects of appraising fine arts, decorative arts and collectibles, and features 50 comprehensive articles – 42 new and eight updated – authored by 56 of the industry’s leading professionals. Included in this definitive guide are 30 articles on connoisseurship, 11 articles on the business of appraising, and nine addressing the theory and methodology of appraising. The book is a resource for people working in the arts, including appraisers, legal and financial communities, art insurers, as well as private and corporate collectors.


William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916), Spring Flowers (Peonies), by 1889, pastel on paper, 48 × 48 in. (121.9 × 121.9 cm). Terra Founda­tion for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection, 1999.32.

“At a time when we are experiencing significant developments in the art market, corresponding with an increase in the demand for accurate and reliable appraisals, this book will serve as an indispensable resource,” said Linda Selvin, Executive Director, Appraisers Association. “Appraisers have the responsibility to stay current with the best practices and techniques in order to provide their clients with independent, impartial, and objective appraisals based on research and professional expertise.”


Dress worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Sold at Bonhams, November 23, 2015, Lot 67, for a record $1,565,000.

Appraising: The Definitive Guide to Valuing Fine Art, Decorative Arts & Collectibles is organized in three sections including Theory and Methodology, The Business of Appraising, and Connoisseurship. Essays are by leading experts in their fields including economist Clare McAndrew, Ph.D., preservationist and appraiser Leigh Keno of Antiques Roadshow, and appraisers and art advisors Jay Grimm, Betty Krulik, Carmen Melién, and Edward Yee.


Bansky, Sweeping It Under the Carpet, c. 2006, aerosol spray on brick and mortar, White Cube Gallery, Hoxton Square, London.

The book is available for preorder at the website of the Appraisers Association of America at https://www.appraisersassociation.org/online-store.