Appraisers

• GUY DILLAWAY, Specialist in Stamps

  Guy’s lifelong passion for rare stamps lead him to the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum where he now resides as president. As past vice-president of the American Philatelic Society, he boasts memberships to the American Stamp Dealers Association, the American Philatelic Society, and the Postal History Society. He is an accredited national-level philatelic judge. He is also President and part owner of Britannia Ltd., a company dealing in the world history of postal service and stamps of the British Commonwealth and is a leader of Triad Publications, specialists in philatelic literature.

• ALBERT FORD, Generalist Appraiser

  Albert offers fourty five years experience as a generalist appraiser. He is registered as an appraiser of antique household possessions to include furniture, silver, porcelain, paintings, metals and carpets and has attended the graduate program of 18th Century Porcelain in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum School. His client base includes museums, corporations, universities, historical societies, trust departments and major collectors throughout Europe and the United States. He is also a national lecturer on silver and porcelain and member of the Appraisers’ Association of America.

• SUSAN FORSTER, Specialist in Paintings and Sculpture

  Susan has a masters degree in Art History from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, has completed all coursework towards her doctorate in modern art, and has held the position of Consulting Fine Arts Appraiser at Accredited Appraisal Associates in Raleigh, NC since 1992. While a graduate student she served as research assistant to Kirk Varnedoe of the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art, NY. Susan has also studied abroad in Germany and France. She completed New York University’s Appraisal Studies program in 1992. She has taught 18th, 19th and 20th century art at the university level.

• LISA GREENBERG, Specialist in Paintings and Works on Paper

  Lisa has a Masters Degree in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania as well as a certificate degree in Fine Arts Appraising from the Rhode Island School of Design. She is currently working at the Clark Gallery in Lincoln, Massachusetts as the Gallery Director in addition to working as an independent fine arts appraiser. She has over ten years of experience working as a curator of contemporary art at the DeCordova Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, Currier Gallery of Art and Art Complex Museum in Duxbury. She serves on the board of the Weston Historical Society. She has been with the Appraisers’ Registry since early 2011.

• TONY GREIST, Generalist Appraiser

  Tony Greist has been involved in the Antiques and Decorative Arts profession since 1974. During this period of time, he has been involved in the purchase and sale of antiques including auction cataloging and estate appraisals totaling in excess of 100 million dollars. In 2007, Tony was offered a position with the auction firm James D. Julia, Inc. in Fairfield, Maine. He worked full time for this company from 2007 through 2017 traveling extensively to obtain quality estate pieces for auction. His position included work interacting with collectors, estates, and a vast array of dealers. He was also heavily involved in acquiring and cataloging the majority of the Fine Art, Asian, and Antiques Department's offerings for auction. Tony has joined as one of the Appraisers' Registry's lead generalists, and is a member of the Antiques Association of America and is USPAP compliant as an appraiser with 50 years of experience in the antiques field, auctions, and personal property appraisals.

• Jeff Ira, Jewelry Appraiser

  Jeff Ira, G.G. has been a jewelry industry professional since 1979. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida, Tampa (1978) and received his Graduate Gemologist diploma from the world renowned Gemological Institute of America in 1986.

  Jeff has extensive experience in all areas of the jewelry industry. First, as General Manager of his family owned retail jewelry store in the greater Boston area. Then as an estate jewelry buyer, diamond grader and sorter for the Harry H. Solomon Co. in Boston. Later, Jeff was an award winning District Manager for Sterling, Inc., the world’s largest jewelry company. Then he became Long’s Jewelers’ appraiser for their multiple locations throughout New England. Jeff brings great expertise to handle all jewelry appraisals for The Appraisers’ Registry.

• ROBERT KLEIN, Art Photography Appraiser

  Robert Klein is a world renowned expert in the field of Fine Art Photography. He has acted as an advisor to the William H. Lane Collection and the Museum of Fine Arts. He has appraised photographs for the PBS series Antiques Roadshow. Robert is a member of the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) and he served as President of its Board of Directors from 1995-2008. The Robert Klein Gallery was established in 1980 and ranks among the world's most prestigious showrooms of Fine Art Photography, He specializes in fine art photography and appraises individual photographs, artist's estates, and entire collections for insurance or tax/donation purposes.

• JOHN KREIS, Photography Specialist

  John, a graduate of both Northeastern University and New England School of Photography is a professional photographer based in Boston who along with collections documentation, specializes in architectural, interior and product photography. His expertise in lighting and composition assure care and precision in documenting and cataloguing works from the finest collections.

• DAN LACROIX, Specialist in Antique Cars

  Dan is a Massachusetts-licensed automobile appraiser who has been involved with car collection since 1962. He operates a car collector business in southeastern Massachusetts where he does appraisals, restores, buys and sells antique and classic cars. He frequents major auctions and car shows throughout New England, Pennsylvania and California.

• JOHANNA MCBRIEN, Specialist in American Furniture, Dolls and Toys

  Johanna brings over twenty years experience in antiques to the appraisal field. Currently, she serves as editor-in-chief of The Catalogue of Antiques and Fine Art. Previously she was editor of AntiquesAmerica.com, worked in museums such as the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in Boston, MA and the Peabody-Essex Museum in Salem, MA, auction houses to include Christies and Northeast Auctions and fifteen minutes as an appraiser on The Antiques Road Show. Johanna earned her masters degree from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture and has attended the Attingham School for the English Country House. She publishes in the field and lectures on American furniture and decorative arts.

• DENNIS MORTIMER, Asian Art

  Dennis has over thirty years of experience working with Asian Antiques, objects, porcelains, Japanese and especially Chinese Paintings ( consulting, advising, and appraising). He began as a collector and refined his expertise through both formal and informal training. He has overseen sales and has conducted appraisals for many institutions such as the MFA, Boston, PEM, Salem, Worcester Art Museum, Sackler and Fogg Museums at Harvard, Cornell University, Duke University, and dozens more. Dennis has expertise in appraisals for Insurance and the IRS. He handles all Asian art appraisals for The Appraisers’ Registry.

• HEATHER NADEAU, Generalist Appraiser

  Heather brings a distinguished background to personal property appraisals, with over thirty years of experience in the field. She began her career at Nadeau's Auction Gallery, where she gained hands-on expertise across all aspects of appraisal work, including cataloging, inventory, object evaluation, and valuation. Over time, she advanced to the role of Vice President, where she directed strategy, oversaw operations, and strengthened the gallery's position in the art and antiques market.
  
  Heather's extensive experience has equipped her with a nuanced understanding of fine art, furniture, silver, jewelry, firearms, and decorative arts, with her work defined by attention to detail, and adherence to the highest professional standards. She provides USPAP-compliant and IRS-qualified appraisals.
  
  She is an Accredited Member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), a member of the Appraisers Alliance of New England (AANE), and a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA), and an Applied Jewelry Professional with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
  
  In addition to her appraisals, Heather has participated in professional conferences, including ISA, AAA, and ASA Conferences, and speaking engagements with the American Bar Association's Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Section Art Panel, and the Day Pitney Paralegal Summit.
  
  Her educational background includes advanced training with Christie's Education, New York University, Rice University, The Appraisal Foundation, and the Gemological Institute of America, covering fine art, antiques, jewelry, conservation, and appraisal methodology.

• MATTHEW NEEDLE, Specialist in Books

  Matthew received his masters degree in history from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA and has been a full-time antiquarian bookseller for over thirty-five years. He is a member of the Ephemera Society, Massachusetts-Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers Association, the Ticknor Society, and the American Antiquarian Society where he has been an appraiser for many years.

• STEPHEN O’BRIEN, Specialist in Decoys and American Sporting Arts

  Beginning his career in hunting decoys for a New England auction house and the Ward Museum in Salisbury, Maryland and then as east coast representative for the Western Wildlife Gallery, Stephen went on to open his own gallery in Boston. He now brings over twelve years experience to the sporting art field with emphasis in antique decoys and paintings by America’s top sporting artists.

• STEVE SCHOFIELD, Specialist in Coins and Stamps

  Steve Schofield started collecting coins and stamps in the 1950’s. He sells more coins and stamps at auction in New England than any other firm and has been doing so for over 25 years. He attends many of the major shows across the country to keep on top the market. Steve takes continuing education seriously and goes to numerous seminars each year. A past president and treasurer of the National Auctioneers Association, he was inducted into the National Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 2003. Steve is also qualified as an expert witness who can testify in court.

• KENNETH VAN BLARCOM, Specialist in Advertising Memorabilia

  Kenneth has been an active member of the appraisal and antique business for over fifteen years. His experience includes running the Boston office of Robert W. Skinner and employment with Shreve, Crump and Low in their antiques department. He is also a professional auctioneer on site and in gallery settings. Kenneth is vice president of his local historic society and serves on panels and lectures on the art and antiques market.

• MARTIN WILLIS, Generalist Appraiser

  As a second-generation auctioneer and appraiser, Martin graduated from Missouri Auction school in 1977 and has over 40 years experience working at auctions and performing appraisals in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado and California. He has been involved in appraising, cataloging and auctioning tens of thousands of antiques, collectibles and works of art. He handled the Josiah Bartlett Auction, signer of the Declaration in 1989, considered one of the most important historic auctions held in New England at the time.

  He was the exclusive appraiser for TV mogul Merv Griffin, who was a fine antique & art collector. This included all of Merv’s properties in California including his LaQuinta ranch as well as his Beverly Hills offices.Having a sincere passion for auctions, antiques, history, fine & decorative art, Martin Willis founded the Antique Auction Forum in August 2009. His ongoing efforts are to do his part in keeping the antique business alive with young people and to share his extensive knowledge.