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Anyone wanting to have an inherited collection, an inherited household or individual antiques valued seriously quickly encounters a confusing market. There are online platforms, auction houses, experts, antique dealers, art historians and buyers. Each of these players promises a valuation, but they do not mean the same thing by it.
Anyone who walks into a valuation appointment poorly prepared often comes away with the wrong figure, with the wrong stamp, on the wrong piece of paper. That harms not only the current decision. It also affects how the value of the collection develops over the coming years, because the subsequent insurance, tax or sale decisions are taken on a shaky basis.
These seven questions are therefore best clarified before the appointment, not during it. They shorten the discussion at the table, filter out the providers you do not want to waste time on, and ultimately give you a report that delivers what it promises.
Question 1: Which type of value do I actually need?
The value of an antique is not a single figure. Depending on the purpose of the valuation, a different concept of value applies. Four are relevant in practice:
Market value (fair market value). The price that could be achieved on the open market today. The basis for sale, gift and division of an estate.
Insurance value (replacement value). What it would cost to acquire a comparable object anew, including premium, transport and insurance. Usually higher than the market value.
Tax value. The officially recognised value for wealth, inheritance and gift tax. Rules differ by canton.
Collector’s value. What a particular collector is prepared to pay above market value. Rarely documented, but real for special provenances.
Anyone who arrives with the question “What is this worth?” gets a figure. Which type of value it represents remains unclear. Anyone who arrives with the question “What is the market value for a planned division of the estate?” gets a robust answer. Clarify before the appointment in which situation the report will be used, and state that situation explicitly to the appraiser.
Question 2: Who is this appraiser really?
In the antiques market, roles often overlap. An antique dealer values and buys at the same time. An auction house values and brokers. An online platform values free of charge and connects you with buyers. In each of these models there is a structural conflict of interest that can influence the valuation.
Three questions clarify who you are dealing with:
Do you sell objects from your own stock? Anyone who sells objects from their own gallery or own auction alongside the valuation has a structural interest that can flow into the report.
Do you receive commissions if I later sell through a particular house? Some appraisers recommend selling through particular auction houses and receive an introducer’s commission. This is not improper, but it should be disclosed.
Who pays your fee – me or the other side? With independent advice, only the client pays. A fee from a third party is a clear signal in whose interest the valuation is being prepared.
A reputable answer to these three questions must be possible clearly and without detours. Evasive answers are a warning sign.
Question 3: How does the appraiser work – on site, from photos or online?
Online platforms offer the quick route: upload a photo, receive an answer within days. That works for clearly attributable objects and for a first orientation. For a robust report it is rarely sufficient.
What online cannot reliably deliver for antiques:
- Detailed condition assessment. For furniture: stress cracks, added layers, veneer replacements, woodworm holes. For porcelain: hairline cracks, glaze damage, restorations. Much of this is not visible in photos.
- Provenance research. Family documents, old invoices, exhibition catalogues. These must be examined in person.
- Special cases. Asian antiques, lots with uncertain attribution, pieces suspected of restoration. All of this demands direct contact with the object.
Clarify before the appointment which form you need. For an insurance update, a photo valuation may suffice. For a division of an estate, a sale decision or a valuation for tax authorities, you should insist on an on-site inspection.
Question 4: What exactly will the report contain?
A reputable report is more than a figure with a stamp beneath it. It contains the following elements, and you should agree them in writing before commissioning:
- Detailed object description with dimensions, material, technique, dating, marks and stamps
- Photo documentation of the object including detail shots of relevant areas
- Provenance research and ownership history, as far as traceable
- Condition report with notes on restorations, additions and damage
- Market analysis with current auction results and comparable private sales
- Clearly named type of value (market value, insurance value or other) with valuation date
- Reasoning behind the valuation, so that the result remains traceable
- Signature, stamp and proof of accreditation
If a provider offers you an “appraisal” on half an A4 page with three lines of reasoning, you are not getting a report but a note. That will not stand up to any tax authority, insurer or notary. In later use this leads to additional effort, queries and, in the worst case, a second report that you then pay for again.
Question 5: What does the valuation cost, and what is included?
Fees for antique appraisals vary widely, depending on effort, depth of research and the class of the object. Three models are common in practice:
- Hourly rate for spot valuations or second opinions. The level depends on specialisation and the complexity of the mandate.
- Flat rate per object for small to medium mandates. The level depends on the depth of research and the class of the object.
- Lot flat rate for larger holdings or estates, with per-object costs falling as the number increases.
Travel costs are shown separately. For urgent mandates (for instance during an ongoing division of an estate), express appointments are common.
Beware of “free valuations”. A free valuation is always tied to a sales interest. The provider expects you to sell the object to them, consign it to their auction or commission their brokerage. If you actually only want the value answer and not the follow-on service, a paid valuation is usually the more honest and, for you, cheaper option.
Question 6: How discreet is the process?
With antique collections of significant value, discretion is often a central concern that receives too little attention in the general discussion. Anyone having an inherited collection valued frequently does not want the information to become public, neither within the family nor towards the market.
Three aspects matter:
- Are mandates cited as references? Some providers showcase their successes in marketing materials. For sensitive mandates, that is an exclusion criterion.
- Are objects shown? Photos on sales platforms or in auction catalogues can generate unwanted public attention, especially for rare pieces.
- Are fiduciary structures possible? For estate-division mandates with several parties, I work through fiduciary structures on request, so that your name does not appear in the valuation.
Clarify before the appointment how the appraiser handles confidentiality. A reputable answer is concrete, not a general “we treat everything confidentially” formula.
Question 7: What happens after the valuation?
A report is rarely the end point. It is the beginning of a decision. Clarify before the appointment whether the appraiser will also accompany you after the valuation, or whether the mandate ends there.
Usual follow-on options:
- Keep and insure. The report serves as the basis for the insurance update.
- Sell privately. For valuable pieces, often the most discreet and most profitable option. Requires a buyer network that a good adviser brings with him.
- Auction. For objects with clear market depth. Greatest reach, but commission and no discretion.
- Create liquidity without selling. For larger collections, values can be used as collateral for a loan without dissolving the holding. More on this on the page Art lending.
- Structuring into a holding company or foundation. For multi-generational collections, often the clean solution. More under Collection strategies.
An adviser who knows these options and can test them against your situation brings considerably more value than one who only delivers a figure.
When you can do without a formal report
Honesty is part of advice. There are situations in which a valuation report does not make sense:
- For objects with a clearly recognisable value below around CHF 1,000. Here a free auction-house enquiry or an online valuation is sufficient.
- For objects that exist in large numbers on the market and with clear price series (for example established branded tableware in standard sizes).
- If you do not need to sell, insure or declare for tax purposes anyway.
In these cases a pragmatic answer, a specialist publication or an exchange in a collectors’ group is often more useful than a formal report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between antiques and antique furniture? Antiques is the broader term and covers furniture, tableware, jewellery, sculpture, books, coins, clocks and much more. Antique furniture is a sub-area. In valuation practice, the respective sub-markets and specialists play different roles, which is relevant when choosing the appraiser.
Do I really need a report for insurance? For values above around CHF 5,000 per object, most insurers require proof of value. For collections from around CHF 30,000 in total value, blanket insurance without a report is usually no longer possible. The exact thresholds vary by provider and policy.
Will Swiss tax authorities recognise my report? Yes, provided it meets the formal requirements: in writing, with reasoning, clearly named type of value, valuation date, signature and proof of accreditation. The cantonal tax administrations accept valuation reports from accredited advisers. Where individual authorities have special requirements, structure and form can be adapted individually.
How old must an object be to count as “antique”? In the trade, the 100-year threshold is often used as a pragmatic rule. For tax and customs purposes there are sometimes differing definitions. For the valuation itself, age matters less than quality, condition and market depth.
Is a report worthwhile if I do not want to sell? Frequently yes. Valuation reports serve not only a sale, but insurance, estate planning, structuring into a holding company or foundation, and simple stock-taking. Anyone who does not know the value of their collection cannot manage it strategically either.
If you need a serious valuation
If you would like an inherited collection, individual objects or a complete holding valued reliably, the first step is a confidential conversation. In the initial conversation we clarify which type of value you really need, whether an on-site inspection is necessary, and the time and financial scope of the mandate. The conversation is free of charge and without obligation.
More on the service on the page Valuations and appraisal reports. Direct contact here.
