In the June installment of our “How to care for…” series, where each month we provide expert insights on how to care for different categories of collectibles, we focus on jewelry. Our colleague Teri Brossmer, GIA GG, ASA, Master Gemologist Appraiser®, ARM-GJ collaborated with us to share her tips for the proper handling and care of fine jewelry. Stayed tuned in the coming months for additional tips from Terri on how to care for specific gems and metals. How to Care for Your

Presenting Part 2 of our series on how to care for works on paper in collaboration with paper conservator Karen Zukor, owner of Zukor Art Conservation in Oakland, CA. Part 1 highlighted environmental factors and in Part 2, Karen shares best practices for the storage of unframed works on paper. STORAGE GUIDELINES: The safest storage for all documents and works of art on paper is flat storage that provides protection against light, acidity, dust, temperature and humidity fluctu

We are pleased to present the next feature in our “How to care for…” series! Read below for a snapshot into the care, handling, and storage of works on paper in collaboration with paper conservator Karen Zukor, owner of Zukor Art Conservation in Oakland, CA. In Part 1, Karen shares information on paper and what environmental factors to watch out for. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PAPER Paper is an absorbent material, easily torn and inherently fragile. It is also highly reactive t

Our colleague Melissa Leventon, ASA and co-founder and principal at Curatrix Group, who specializes in textile and fashion appraisals and museum consulting, collaborated with us to share her tips for the proper handling and care of designer and luxury handbags. Both investment-grade handbags and ordinary purses benefit from being well-cared-for. See below for tips on what to do, and not to do. Avoid stress, strain, and environmental extremes:do not overstuff your handbag, whi

We speak to our decorative art specialist Liza Hickey about how to care for your wood furniture. Many of us have antique wood furniture in our homes. After 100 or more years, the wood used to craft these pieces can be vulnerable to a number of elements. Storing antique furniture in unventilated, non-temperature controlled environments, like garages, sheds, and attics, can lead to problems. Here are three main factors that can be addressed to help keep your antiques looking go

Whether you have small tabletop pieces in your home, antique garden statuary, or large outdoor sculpture, here is some expert advice on proper and safe care for your bronze collection. Corrosion, poor handling and inappropriate storage are the major causes of damage to metal artifacts. Most metal artifacts should not be handled with bare hands. Salts and oils from your skin can etch into uncoated metals and may even cause permanent damage. Soft cotton gloves or any clean glov

Today we speak to our decorative art specialist Liza Hickey about how to care for your silver. Whether you are a serious art and antiques collector with an extensive collection, or have just a few precious objects, or even someone with hand-me-downs from your family, we aim to provide insights on how best to preserve, store and maintain your valued collections. Stay tuned on the first Tuesday of each month for a new installment. During our appraisal inspections, we often see

Protecting Your Collection in Late Summer Heat and Early Fall Humidity Whether a serious collection of prints by famous photographers or cherished family momentos, photographs require special care and handling. Different types of photographs require different kinds of care. Preventing damage and deterioration is crucial, as much of it cannot be reversed. Proper storage and environmental conditions are essential to reduce risks from display and handling for the long-term prese