Vintage Home Furniture

How can I go about finding an appraiser for a collection of antiques and antiquities?

I need someone who is reliable and inexpensive in the San Francisco area who knows his stuff about ancient to 19th century coins, sculptures, paintings, etc. Is there an independent ratings service or website? I am particularly interested in coin experts and Japanese ceramics experts.

Public Comments

1. This is tricky & scarey. For starters, deal only with people who bill by the hour without getting themselves a % interest. Ask for referrals from local museums & academic institutions. Bank trust departments manage estates involving every kind of collectible - if you can get an officer to speak to you they also know how to put hard prices on things quickly.
2. Julie said precisely what I would say. Don't just call people at random from the phone yellow pages. Check with local museums, particularly those whose collections are in the same period as the piece you have. Then double check with the banks who do estate valuations. Good luck!