Appraisal Services

Formal written appraisals of fine art, antiques, jewelry and sterling silver for estates, attorneys, CPAs and collectors throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding suburbs. Prepared from our Edina gallery by a qualified appraiser as defined under IRS regulations, in accordance with the substance and principles of USPAP.

What We Appraise

We appraise the same material we sell every month — which means our valuations come from the categories our specialists handle daily.

• Fine Art — Paintings, works on paper, prints and sculpture, including Minnesota and Upper Midwest regional artists we handle regularly for Twin Cities estates.
• Sterling Silver & Flatware — American and English sterling, hollowware and full flatware services, identified against our own reference database of 255 makers' marks and patterns. Browse our Silver Mark Database.
• Jewelry & Watches — Period and estate jewelry, diamonds, coloured stones and wristwatches, researched against our own maker's-mark database. Browse our Jewelry Mark Database.
• Asian Art — Chinese and Japanese ceramics, bronzes, jade, scroll paintings and works of art — a category where attribution drives value dramatically.
• Furniture & Decorative Arts — Period and designer furniture, clocks, lighting, art glass, ceramics and general household contents of Twin Cities estates.
• Coins & Currency — United States and world coins, bullion and paper currency, valued against current published and realised market data.

Why Market Evidence Matters

Value is not an opinion — it is a conclusion drawn from what comparable property is actually selling for right now. SebastianCharles Auctions sees that evidence first-hand: we catalogue and sell fine art, silver, jewelry and estate property at auction every month, and the results are published in our auction highlights and past results. That current market data is what stands behind every report we sign.

Our appraisals are prepared by a qualified appraiser as defined under IRS regulations, and reports are prepared in accordance with the substance and principles of USPAP. Sebastian Gholl has seven years appraising and selling this material at auction, and signs every report.

Types of Appraisal

The intended use of an appraisal determines the value basis we apply. Tell us the purpose and we will prepare the correct report.

• Estate & Tax Appraisal — Date-of-death fair market value for Form 706 filings, trust administration and equitable distribution among heirs.
• Insurance Appraisal — Replacement-value reports for scheduling items on a policy, and documentation to substantiate a claim after a loss.
• Charitable Donation Appraisal — Qualified appraisals supporting IRS Form 8283 for noncash charitable contributions over $5,000.

Our Appraisal Process

• Step 01 — Send Photographs. We start with photographs of the property, along with the purpose of the appraisal and the deadline you are working to — a probate calendar, a tax return, or an insurance renewal.
• Step 02 — Review & On-Site Inspection Where Warranted. We review what you send first. Where the estate warrants it, we inspect in person — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Edina and the surrounding suburbs, and anywhere else in Minnesota that the property justifies the trip.
• Step 03 — Research & Market Analysis. Every conclusion is supported by market evidence: comparable auction results, dealer and retail data where relevant, condition, provenance and current demand in the category.
• Step 04 — Written Report. You receive a formal written report delivered digitally as a PDF and in hardcopy, with photographs, full descriptions, methodology, and our signed appraiser declaration.

Most reports are delivered within two weeks, and we can work to a firm deadline when a filing or closing date requires it. Our primary market is Minneapolis–St. Paul, but we travel throughout Minnesota where an estate warrants an on-site inspection.

Fees and Turnaround

Appraisals are billed hourly, starting at $150. On larger estates, portions of the work may be handled by an associate appraiser at a lower rate. We always provide an estimated total before any work begins, and most reports are delivered within two weeks.

• Fees are never contingent on value. Our compensation is not tied to the values we conclude, to a percentage of the appraised total, or to whether the property is later consigned to us. That independence is an ethics requirement — and it is the reason a report can be relied on.
• Most reports are delivered within two weeks — digitally as a PDF and in hardcopy.
• Informal auction estimates, by contrast, are always free — request one through our free auction estimate form.

Sebastian Gholl

Sebastian Gholl has spent seven years appraising and selling fine art, antiques, jewelry and silver at auction, and signs every report this firm issues. That combination matters: the person concluding the value is the same person who catalogues and sells comparable property month after month.

Each report states the appraiser's education and experience in the relevant category and carries a signed declaration of qualification, as IRS regulations require of a qualified appraiser. Reports are prepared in accordance with the substance and principles of USPAP.

Frequently Asked

How much does an appraisal cost?

Appraisals are billed hourly, starting at $150. On larger estates, portions of the work may be handled by an associate appraiser at a lower rate. We provide an estimated total before any work begins, and our fees are never contingent on the values concluded.

How long does an appraisal take?

Most reports are delivered within two weeks, digitally and in hardcopy. If you are working to a filing or closing deadline, tell us the date and we will confirm before starting whether we can meet it.

Do you travel outside the Twin Cities?

Yes. We are based at our Edina gallery and our primary market is Minneapolis–St. Paul, but we travel throughout Minnesota for estates where an on-site inspection is warranted.

Which type of appraisal do I need?

The intended use sets the value basis. Estate and tax filings use fair market value, insurance scheduling uses replacement value, and charitable contributions over $5,000 require a qualified appraisal on a fair market value basis. Tell us the purpose and we will prepare the correct report.

Need an Appraisal in Minnesota?

Tell us what you have and what the appraisal is for. We work with executors, estate attorneys, CPAs, collectors and insurance agents throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul and the rest of Minnesota, from our gallery in Edina. Contact our appraisal team or request a free auction estimate.