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So Who are these Independent Appraisers
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A visitor to my website asked : 'Are the appraisers that
parkwest gallery is using really independent ?'
Well, that is a really good question. One that deserves
some investigation that I'll be taking on over the next few weeks.
Let's Get To It ..
Caroline
Ashleigh: parkwest current favorite .. she's local just a few miles
away.
louis postel made a posting on his blog regarding bashing
Fine Art Registry's service stating on his art collectors forum that
:
Any kind of validation that means anything at all has
to be in person. Either the original artists or
his family has to confirm: "yeah, that's real", OR an appraiser
affiliated with national appraisal groups such as the ASA (American Society of
Appraisers http://www.appraisers.org/. The big three use appraisers such as
Caroline Ashleigh ASA of Detroit. Most of you have seen her on the Antique
Roadshow. When Ashleigh examines work to be offered by
ParkWestGallerySotheby'sChristie's Inc, for example, she
checks it out in person and only in person.
(WWS Editor note: I don't believe that Fine Art Registry
actually offers appraisals or valuations so what louie is spewing about in his
post is beyond me additionally as can be seen below .. Caroline isn't ASA
unless it is in the name of Carolyn Hoard .. but i couldn't find that
either.)
..................
Author: Louis Postel writes about art and design for
national publications such as Art & Antiques, Robb Report Home and
Showboats International
Surprisingly enough, on Caroline's own
website she offers value opinions and states
Value Opinions by E-mail or Mail
This service is for fine art and decorative art
(paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, textiles, ceramics, etc.) that, due
to distance, we are unable to easily personally examine. If you would like a
professional opinion for artwork, please follow the instructions below:
In order to provide a researched, written professional
opinion for your artwork, we need to receive the following items:
1. The completed information form
below
2. Two (2) clear photographs of your artwork sent either
as attachments uploaded to the form below or sent by U.S. Mail to: ( see her
site for address)
So which is it caroline .. only in person or can i send
you 2 8x10 color glossies ? To be fair, this would just be an opinion .. wait
.. isn't that what an appraisal is .. an opinion? So is this an appraisal or
are you just taking the money and running? Sure it is great , you've been in
the business for a number of year, you were on the Antiques Road Show .. Hmm I
seem to remember that there were a few 'Appraisers' on that show that landed in
the clink for inflating valuations when it was in their favor and lowballing
them when it was in theirs .. I still love the show though. Watch it all the
time.
Anyway from Caroline's About Caroline Ashleigh page .. in
the 3rd paragraph at the bottom it states :
She serves as art appraiser and consultant to the
world’s largest art gallery.
Now this wouldn't happen to be parkwest gallery, you are
a consultant to parkwest, an art appraiser for parkwest, and an independent
appraiser that parkwest is sending customers to when they have a dispute? Ok,
let me get this straight, you are a consultant to parkwest, what is your
monthly retainer for being at parkwest's disposal? Are you able to bite the
hand that feeds you by offering an independent appraisal that might go against
your master's interest? That one would be tough for me to believe, If you were
in a different state, I might buy it. but what 20 miles from the white whale?
I'm a bit skeptical .. convince me.
I've met and worked with a number of 'consultants', mind
you they are not all bad. but from my experience, there are a lot that are in
it for the money alone. I hope you are way above that, because parkwest can and
will surely tempt you with the coin.
What is your Speciality? I took a look at the PBS website
an saw that you
appraised an embroidered vest, a yellow pages dress and a hat
pin collection. If i owned them .. i'd sell 'em too. But back to the subject of
specialty, the last time i looked around the gallery, Hmm, they don't seem to
offer any items like this here in the gallery. So, what is the specialty,
objects, paintings, or the embellished giclees hawked by parkwest
gallery?
oh yeah, after looking around, there are some sport
memorabilia, over in inventory can you appraise those? how about some erte
jewelry that looks like they got a fire sale somewhere? Have you appraised
anything from CFA?
I noticed that you did a 18 C. Vest, How much might my
one left shoe in the title image be worth? I think postel has the other
one.
Speaking of Louis Postel again, did you notice in the
posting at the top, where louie louie said:
The big three use appraisers such as Caroline Ashleigh
ASA of Detroit
is louis saying that Christie's and Sotheby's use
Caroline? I don't believe so .. i think that louis is just hoping that we miss
that subtle word play. For clearer reading i think it should say.
Christie's and Sothebys use appraisers that are members
of the American Society of Appraisers. And Caroline is a member of that
body.
I take an issue with postel's "Big Three" line.
Ok, I'll buy Christie's and Sotheby's but is louis inferring that parkwest
gallery is # 3 in this list? louie, you have got to be kidding me. Christie's
and Sotheby's probably wouldn't touch anything that came off the cruise ships
(well, maybe the stuff the VIP's might buy because parkwest isn't the
publisher) But the embellished giclees or prints might be able to be used as
box filler for the works sold at Sotheby's and Christie's.
 ms. ashleigh, you
know, when you love being the center of attention, you say stuff you might
regret stating later ... like during your
interview in the Oakland Press August 5th, 2008
Ashleigh could be presented with anything
from a 17th century silk waistcoat to the suit Elvis Presley wore in "Viva
Las Vegas," she said.
"Anything that is fabric."
Please correct me if i am wrong, but are you telling us
your speciality is fabrics? I am not sure that canvas on frames sprayed with an
inkjet printer would be considered 'textiles'. but i could be wrong. then
again, maybe not.
Ok, i am not sure that a reputable appraiser would become
involved in the appraisal of art work that is sold exclusively by the publisher
that has nearly no secondary market and no comparable sales .. what, do you
just take the publisher's retail price and say .. ok comparing all the auction
sales for this (as an example) LeKniff .. oh wait, i think that there is the
only one company hawking her giclees .. ok mr. gallery owner .. how much are
you charging? .. ok then my appraisal will state the value is the same as your
retail price.
I am sure you making money hand over fist with this new
appraisal deal, and we must remember, 6:10 For the love of money is the root of
all evil and that is how we got into this sorrid mess don't you think? poor
poor caroline, yet another influenced by money.
Are there any ASA members out there that would like to
send me their opinions regarding the ethics of appraising for parkwest, I'd
love to hear from you. and as
always, i won't publish your name or any identifying information
While i am at it, is there anyone out there that knows
anyone from Antiques Roadshow, I'd love to get their insight too.
this is great folks parkwests' newest appraiser
Caroline Ashleigh a self proclaimed authority of
fabric (why is she appraising prints al?) back in 2003 created
a document for the
Michigan Bar Journal entitled ' Using "Expert" Art
Appraiser - what a lawyers need to know' . I wonder of any of parkwest
appraisers (al baby, mini marc scaglione, bill smith, morris shapiro, albert
molina, bernard ewell or even ms ashleigh herself) can say that they can meet
these qualification. What do you think
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 It seems we have some more information regarding Ms..
Ashleigh. This is great. Parkwest Lies like a rug .. not even a classic Persian
.. Parkwest and Louis Postel are touting her credentials as a ASA member, well,
I checked it out .. Nope not here. Hey boneheads, she is AAA and after looking
at their membership requirements, even I could become a member, I just have to
pay my application fee, my annual dues, and prove that i have an interest in
appraising stuff and ShaZam !!! I could be an
AAA member too. In my opinion, i feel that the ASA
certification is the gold standard, it's not just a membership like the AAA. An
example of an association might be AAA (Automobile Association of America) now
AutoClubGroup .. it's just an association. you pay your dues you get some
spiffs.
And it gets even better. I looked at the NYU certificate
program that she 'graduated' from , Uhm, Caroline .. this isn't a degree, it's
a professional certificate. There is a difference, as i see it is more like a
correspondence course as opposed to a real live university degree .. would you
agree? Anyway, you can check out the program requirements for the
NYU certificate program. See what i mean? I picked the most
expensive courses and came up with $3725.00 as the total cost of this
certificate .. ok there probably is an application fee. so maybe the total cost
is what 4 grand.
Caroline? Do you have a bachelor's degree from somewhere?
Anywhere? If you got it, flaunt it. yeah, i didn't think so. How about an
associates degree from the local community college ?? what? nothing? darn that
sucks.
Well, at least PBS' Antiques Roadshow doesn't require a
degree to get a job as a guest appraiser. But do they require an accredited
certificate as opposed to a professional certificate? Oh well, keep on keeping
on.
Oh folks, i hope you don't have any work that has been
appraised by parkwests newest stablemate because in my opinion,
they don't got no credentials
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Bernard
Ewell.
Bernard Ewell, is an interesting individual. Here is a very important note, or
clarification. an individual needs to be careful when interpreting parkwest
spin. It is easy to mistake their spin and to conclude that Ewell, had worked
for the FBI. I don't believe that he "Worked" for the FBI as an
employee. I.E. he was NOT an agent but a consultant and/or paid expert. after
reading the volumes of information one could wrongly assume that Ewell was an
agent. So be careful thinking that Ewell is magically more knowledgeable than
he really is.
Ewell, seems to be nearly a captive individual of the
gallery. I am sure that albert pays him extremely well (ass he does everyone he
wishes to influence). I wonder if Ewell is above the money that albert's
influence can buy.
Ewell, seems to be part of the fray between parkwest and
parkwest's detractors. Checking out his
website where he seems to be joining the ruckus
If a person has integrity, nothing else matters. If a
person does not have integrity, nothing else matters.
Uhm, Bernard, I'm thinking that you have stepped out of
the role of impartial, professional, expert witness. When you continue
repeating and supporting what surely seem to be pretty spurious
statement.
In my opinion you are just another paid spin doctor
flunky of parkwest. I originally thought more of you, but now i question your
motivations , I guess that having to go back to review the albaretto collection
again also made me suspicious. Hopefully, when all is said and done, i hope the
money that parkwest bought your integrity with helps you carry on when this is
all over.
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| To me, If a person has integrity, nothing else
matters. If a person does not have integrity, nothing else matters. and in
my opinion, there really isn't much integrity in parkwest owners, management,
or those paid PR smear doctors, so nothing else matters. |
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