Burke & Co. Fine Art Consultants, a St. Petersburg based firm, provides valuation and collections management services to businesses, individuals and museums.
Burke & Co. Fine Art Consultants 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 out-of-ordinary collection.
Services Provided
Valuing collections is more than looking at auction databases. As museum professionals, we approach every work with an eye to the importance (considering the larger context to the artists 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 an important component 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 staff of Burke & Co. are associate members of the Appraisers Association of America and are USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, a congressionally authorized standard for appraisers) compliant. This distinction ensures hiring an appraiser that is up to date on the current rules and standards of practice in the field, they are guided by a code of ethics and follow specific report writing standards.