Corcoran Fine Arts provides exclusive, discrete, conclusive appraisals of
the world's most important works of art, for all purposes

Knowledgeable in Art and Law

James Corcoran is an Accredited Senior Appraiser in the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) with expert knowledge of painting, sculpture, drawing and prints. He also appraises decorative arts and antique furniture.

He maintains a first-hand familiarity with current market values through frequent trips to major galleries and auction houses in New York, London, Europe, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as by a careful reading of auction catalogues and art journals from around the world. His extensive library of reference materials is continually updated.

As a member of the American Bar Association with a B.A. cum laude from Harvard University and an LL.B. and LL.M. from Harvard Law School, Mr. Corcoran brings to bear a full understanding of property, tax, insurance and probate law as he works with attorneys, executors, administrators, and insurance companies, as well as individual and corporate collectors nationwide. Mr. Corcoran is a member of the New York, California, Massachusetts and Ohio Bars.

For more information about Mr. Corcoran's experience, please click here to view his Curriculum Vitae.

Certified Appraisals

Mr. Corcoran is a Certified Appraiser with the Appraisers Association of America and an Accredited Appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers. Mr. Corcoran is one of only two personal property appraisers nationally who is also a Certified Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is frequently engaged as an expert witness and consultant in fine art litigation matters. He regularly works on fine art loss and damage claims. His appraisals are also USPAP certified in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

Diligent and Discreet

Each client is provided with a detailed written report documenting the value of the property under consideration. In preparing these reports, Mr. Corcoran makes use of his extensive academic research back ground, his contacts among a wide spectrum of fine art specialists, and where appropriate, slides, photographs and videotapes. Each appraisal report is then tailored to the specific needs of the client for:

• Probate - Federal Estate Tax
• Charitable Donation
• Insurance
• Purchase and Deaccessioning
• Property Division
• Bankruptcy

His appraisal reports are certified in accordance with the Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).  Mr. Corcoran is also a Loss and Damage claims specialist, and available for expert witness services.

A Codicil

In addition to his more than 15 years experience as an appraiser, Mr. Corcoran has supplemented his legal and art history background by serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of The Cleveland Area Arts Council, The Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, and SPACES, an alternative arts organization in Cleveland.

He is also an active member of the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Royal Academy (London), New York's Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), and the Butler Institute of American Art.

Integrity and Independence

His fees are based on an hourly schedule rate plus expenses and are never based on the value of the property being appraised. This eliminates any incentive to inflate the value of appraisal property and meets the strict requirements of his profession.

Of real importance to fiduciaries and others, Mr. Corcoran handles each appraisal without conflict of interest. Unlike auctioneer-appraisers, dealers and liquidators, he will not purchase appraisal property for resale or otherwise.

When disposition of property is an issue, Mr. Corcoran fully explains the many modes of disposition open to the client. He then discusses the pros and cons of each mode for each piece of appraisal property. Dealers, auctioneers and liquidators are unlikely to offer objective advice in this matter. Use of avenues of disposal recommended by Mr. Corcoran have resulted in substantially increased net proceeds for his clients.

Mr. Corcoran regularly acts as a consultant to clients contemplating the purchase of a work of art. His knowledge of the marketplace has resulted in significant cost savings on purchases by his clients and has avoided the purchase of overpriced or otherwise doubtful works.

James Corcoran's independence as an appraiser and background as a scholar are your best assurances of an honest and accurate appraisal.

Selecting an Appraiser of Fine Art

Is the appraiser an accredited professional and a true authority on the appraisal property in question?

Is the appraiser knowledgeable enough to determine the value of the art in regional, national or international markets?

Does the appraiser have a clear understanding of property tax, insurance and probate law?

Is the appraiser prepared to give counsel on the pluses and minuses of all the various means of disposition?

And most importantly does the appraiser provide opinions and advice untainted by self-serving economic motives?