Professional Antique Appraisal Services You Can Trust

Call or send a note to set a time. We can visit your home or meet you by appointment in Islip.

• Not ready for a visit? Text clear photos of the front, back and any markings, and we will reply with a first opinion.

During that first conversation we ask what you have, roughly how much of it there is, and what you hope to do with it. 

That tells us whether a photo review is enough, whether you should bring a few pieces to us, or whether a home visit makes more sense. Large or heavy items, full collections and whole-house contents are usually best seen where they are.

Tips for useful photos: shoot in daylight, fill the frame with the object, and add a close-up of every mark, stamp, label or signature. For furniture, include the back, the underside and an open drawer. For jewelry and silver, photograph the hallmarks. For paintings, include the back of the canvas or frame.

Send us photos

At the appointment, we look closely at:

• When and where the piece was made, its state, and any ownership history

• What it is made of and how well it was built

• What comparable pieces are selling for right now

In practice, that means checking hallmarks and maker's marks, testing metals where needed, looking at construction details like joinery, screws and saw marks, and noting any repairs, replacements or missing parts. For art, we look at the signature, the medium, the frame and any gallery or auction labels. For coins, we consider date, mint mark, wear and eye appeal.

Condition is judged honestly. Normal wear is expected on older pieces and often adds character. Damage, heavy restoration or replaced parts usually lower value, and we will explain by how much it matters for your item.

We explain the value we arrive at and how we got there, and if you are thinking of selling, which route will likely bring the best result.

• Every figure is explained so you can check our reasoning.

Different values serve different purposes. A fair market value is what a willing buyer would likely pay today. A retail or replacement value, used for insurance, is usually higher. An offer to buy reflects what a dealer can pay and still resell. 

We tell you which kind of number you are hearing, so nothing is confusing later.

If you want to sell, we lay out the options side by side: a direct sale to us, consignment at auction, or inclusion in an estate or tag sale. Then the choice is yours, with no deadline and no obligation.