HAND WRITTEN ALBERT EINSTEIN LETTERS OFFERED BY AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2011

CONTACT: BRIAN KOGAN

                               (561) 805-7115

AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES

Sale June 27, 2011

West Palm Beach, FL

A collection of six Einstein letters will cross the block in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 27.

(West Palm Beach, FL) A great thinker like Albert Einstein comes along very rarely and almost as rare is the opportunity to own a handwritten letter penned by the master mind. A collection of six Einstein letters, including two handwritten examples, headline the sale scheduled for June 27 in West Palm Beach, FL at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches. Auction president Brian Kogan said, “Einstein’s autograph is desirable enough but having two letters written completely in the hand of this genius is incredible.”

The collection of letters descended in the family of Dr. Hans Maurice Cassel, an Assistant Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Berlin Institute of Technology in the 1920s. Cassel worked with Einstein on a number of scientific theories and formulae. The letters were found by the granddaughter of Cassel in a file box left to her by her mother. The letters were written between 1936 and 1937 when Einstein was at Princeton University. Cassel’s correspondence with Einstein is documented in the Einstein Archives at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The handwritten letters, written to Cassel in German, discuss theories they were working on.

The auction will feature over 325 lots from several estates. The inventory includes antiques, carpets and fine art from a prestigious property at St. Andrews in Boca Raton. Antique furniture, chandeliers, 19^th century giltwood mirrors, antiques and lamps from a Wellington equestrian estate, Part III of the continuing Asian Collection sale from a Boca Raton collector featuring jade objects d’art and snuff bottles and fine art from the estate of a Palm Beach gentleman as well as additional consignments from around South Florida and the Palm Beaches.

Items of special note in the sale include a pair of 19^th century French ormolu mounted Old Paris porcelain vases with double scroll handles ending in female mask terminals, painted with flowers on a green ground, raised on a fluted base with bead and wreath collar, a spectacular 19^th century Italian carved giltwood mirror within pierced shell, scroll and flower border carved with swans, putti heads, masks and dragons and a magnificent Chinese celadon jade bangle with solid inner ring and foliate and bats pierced outer ring.

For more information and images of this outstanding collection please see the Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches website at www.AGOPB.com or call 561-805-7115 and ask for Mr. Leslie Baker or Mr. Brian Kogan. Live bidding with LiveAuctioneers.com and the-saleroom.com, absentee and phone bidding available.  Preview will begin in the Gallery on Thursday June 23. The auction starts Monday June 27 at 6:00PM. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.

FABERGE TEA SERVICE, CUBAN ART AND ORIENTAL JADE TO DAZZLE THE SENSES IN WEST PALM BEACH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2011

CONTACT: BRIAN KOGAN

                               (561) 805-7115

AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES

Sale May 23, 2011

West Palm Beach, FL

Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will offer an unseen collection of Cuban art rescued from a soon to be gutted apartment on May 23 and 24.

(West Palm Beach, FL) The market for Cuban art is very strong, competitive, and definitely mysterious in South Florida. On Monday, May 23 and Tuesday May 24         Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will offer to collectors both locally and internationally a group of Cuban artworks that according to Gallery president Brian Kogan, “is as far as I know is totally new and unseen to the auction market.”

The problems in establishing authenticity are well known in the Cuban art market. With the political issues surrounding Cuban art and the some of the scandals that have ensued in Cuba and in Miami over the past twenty five years, getting a Cuban work of art authenticated in writing is next to impossible.  Aware of these difficulties the consignor decided to offer the works without any guarantee of authenticity and let the buyers establish how desirable and valuable the works are.

The collection is an array of Cuban artists including paintings and watercolors by Rene Portocarrero, Mario Carreno, Segundo Cabrera Moreno, Leopold Romanach, and two bronze sculptures by Manuel Carbonell. There are two paintings by Rene Portocarrero, one an oil on canvas of the façade of the Cathedral de Madrid at Night in his characteristic colorful palette and heavy impasoto, and a watercolor of a Harlequin Musician dated 1960. The paintings by Segundo Cabrera Moreno are visually exciting with the imagery of farm workers wrangling horses. Both are signed and dated for 1964. There are two paintings by Leopold Romanch y Guillen of beach scenes and two figurative bronzes by Manuel Carbonell.

The May 23^rd auction will also feature an oil on canvas still life by French artist Suzanne Valadon dated 1926 from a Boca Raton private collection with provenance. Valadon is the mother of Maurice Utrillo (French 1883-1955) and there is a large and very beautiful Le Pho oil on silk painting from a Fort Lauderdale collection with many other paintings and prints coming from a Boca Raton estate plus additional fine art by James Coignard, Franklin De Haven, Erte, Salvador Dali, Eugene Lami, Fritz Bultman, Robert Motherwell and many others.

The auction will also have a wonderful array of Orientalia. As the market for Chinese and Oriental items is still ascending, the consignments from South Florida and the Palm Beaches continues to unearth some fabulous objects. Including an important collection of jades to include a set of ten 19^th century green nephrite book tablets with Imperial marks and a celadon nephrite archaistic Fang Ding censor with Elephant Handles. Also featured is a Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze boddhistva with a Yung Lo (15^th century) mark and an exotic 50 lot snuff bottle collection with some  excellent examples in jade, enamel, and ivory.

From the Boca Raton estate there is a Lalique “Cactus” table, a pair of 5ft. uncarved ivory tusks, a 19^th century Chinese four panel screen, Paul Storr silver, Meissen ten piece monkey band, R. Lalique, and a Russian five piece silver and enamel tea service along with English, Italian, and French furniture, carpets, lighting and much more.

For more information and images of this outstanding collection please see our website at www.AGOPB.com or call 561-805-7115 and ask for Mr. Leslie Baker or Mr. Brian Kogan. Live bidding with LiveAuctioneers.com and absentee and phone bidding available.  Preview will be online and in our gallery 10:00 – 5:00 Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sunday 12:00-5:00 and Monday 10:00 to auction. The auction starts each day at 6:00 PM EST. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.  

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES

Faberge Silver and Enamel Tea Service (1908-1917) With Imperial Warrant

Rene Portocarrero (1912-1986), o/c, signed and dated '63, 39 1/2" x 29 1/2".

 

Manuel Carbonell (b. 1918), bronze, signed, marked # 3/8, dated 91,

36" h. 

 

Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938), o/c, signed and dated 1926, 18 1/4" x 15"

 

Sino-Tibetan Gilt Bronze Bodhisattva. Ming Dynasty. Yung-Lo mark, 1403-1424

TREASURES FROM NEW YORK’S MADISON GALLERIES TO CROSS THE BLOCK IN WEST PALM BEACH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 18, 2010

CONTACT: BRIAN KOGAN

(561) 805-7115

AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES

Sale January 10,11, 2011

West Palm Beach, FL

Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will offer the personal property of the Rubenstein’s, owners of the Madison Galleries.

(West Palm Beach, FL) Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches will conduct a single owner, two session auction on January 10th and 11th, 2011 offering the personal property of Mrs. Florence Rubinstein and the late Mr. Irving Rubinstein. The Rubinstein’s were the owners of the renowned Madison Galleries in New York City before retiring to Delray Beach. The auction will feature over 600 lots of antiques, fine art, and objects d’art that were previously in their home at 20 Sutton Place South in Manhattan.

This collection was amassed over seventy years of dealing and collecting by the Rubinstein’s. Their eye for antiques is clearly evident in the fine selection of items offered. Each object has a quality in execution and detail that is a testament to the Rubinstein’s’ discerning taste.

Some of the highlights are a group of Russian bronzes including a very large group by Lanceray, a collection of Russian enamels, over 75 lots of silver, a collection of very fine Japanese and Chinese ivories and bronzes, 19th century figural bronze and Baccarat crystal vases, a Satsuma collection, a fine collection of 17 Pietra Dura plaques, three paintings by Johann Berthelsen (1873-1972 American), a 19th century Pietra Dura inlaid cabinet on stand, a collection of fine English porcelain service plates, a fabulously large Meissen dog, 273 piecss of Tiffany sterling flatware set in the “Castilian” pattern and an amazing Tiffany glass vase 14” high, pair of Royal Sevres vases, 18th and 19th century Chinese porcelain and jade objects including an impressive 18th century covered vase, coral carvings, a collection of European bronzes, European paintings and much more.

This auction will be an excellent opportunity for collectors and dealers to bid on an array of fine quality antiques and art that are fresh to the market, after seventy years of collecting.

Madison Galleries was founded by Florence’s father Mr. Abe Ash in the 1930’s and its first location was on Madison Avenue in mid-town. As the gallery became more successful in the 1950‘s, Ash branched out and opened two locations in Atlantic City and expanded the Manhattan gallery to 45th and 5th Avenue. As Madison Galleries continued to grow with new connections in Europe, the gallery became too small and re-located to 56th Street and 2nd Avenue.

By the time Irving and Florence Rubinstein took over the running of Madison Galleries from Abe Ash, Madison Galleries had become recognized as one of the major retailers in the antique industry. Their business was expanding and their reputation as a leading supplier of antiques to the retail and antique auction trade was flourishing. Madison Galleries became a recognized destination for collectors, designers, and decorators. In the 1980’s, the gallery re-located to 840 Broadway and operated there until 1995 when the Rubinstein’s retired to South Florida. Mr. Rubinstein passed away in 2004 and Mrs. Rubinstein now in her 90’s has chosen to auction her extensive collection with Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches Inc.

For more information, condition reports, and images of this outstanding collection please see our website at www.AGOPB.com or call 561-805-7115 and ask for Mr. Leslie Baker or Mr. Brian Kogan. Preview will begin on-line on December 18th and in our gallery starting on January 6th. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401. Absentee, phone Bids, and internet bidding is available on LiveAuctioneers.com.

Captions for Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches January 10, 11, 2011 auction

 Evgeni Lanceray “The Capture” Bronze Group, F. Chopin Mark, 16 ¾” h. , 25 1/8” L

Russian Silver Gilt & Enamel Pedestal Bowl by Kuzmichev, 1899, 5 ¾” h., 9 7/8” L

English Silver Monteith Bowl, London 1891, (75 oz.), 8 ¾” h., 12 ½” dia

French 19th C. Gilt Bronze & Cut Glass Vase, 29 7/8” h

 

Massive Chinese 18th C. Famille Rose Vase & Cover, 32” h

 

 Northern Italian 19th C. Pietra Dura & Gilt Bronze Cabinet on Stand

ARTS & CRAFTS FOUNTAIN SAVED FROM THE WRECKING BALL BY WOODEN NICKEL ANTIQUES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 2, 2010


CONTACT: Michael Williams

(513) 241-2985

The Cincinnati antiques dealer and architectural salvage firm rescued the decorative tile fountain days ahead of the demolition crew.


(CINCINNATI, OH) – Preserving this piece of Cincinnati history was a job most contractors would not be interested in even bidding on due to possible damage and difficulty according to Michael Williams, owner of Wooden Nickel Antiques. But Williams has done it before.

The decorative tile fountain was installed on a wall in the Wheatley Tile showroom building when it was built in the early 1920s. It was laid tile by tile on a brick wall covered with a two inch veneer of concrete set on two levels. The top half was in the entrance hall and the bottom half was about two feet lower in the original showroom and set in concrete. Since the concrete is harder than the tiles and the tiles tend to break, the removal of the entire wall was required to remove the fountain intact. Williams secured the salvage contract with less than two weeks to go before demolition.

T. J. Wheatley began his career in Cincinnati in the early 1870s working for Dayton Street/Coulton Pottery. In 1879 the Cincinnati Pottery Company was formed as a vehicle for Wheatley and his students. By the end of 1880 Wheatley was successfully selling to Tiffany & Co and he worked for Weller in 1897. In 1903 Wheatley and Issac Kahn formed the Wheatley Pottery Company making art pottery, garden ware and architectural items. It was in the lobby of this company’s showroom that the fountain was installed.

Williams and Wooden Nickel have a history of fountain removal having successfully removed several fountains made by famous Arts & Crafts artist Ernest Batchelder. In the 1980s the firm acquired and removed a seven foot figural fountain designed by Clement Barnhorn for the Cincinnati pottery firm Rookwood. That fountain now resides in the Cincinnati Art Museum.

In seven days of non stop work beginning in early October Wooden Nickel’s experienced crew of concrete cutters, riggers and craftsmen shored up the ceiling and freed the wall from the foundation to build a protective wooden crate around it and the fountain with heavy duty stretch wrap around excelsior protective packing underneath. Then a metal frame was welded around the crate so it could be lifted out of place using three 2,000 pound chain hoists. The 4,000 pound package was then tipped on its side to make the journey out the door to the truck.

In addition to the fountain the project included the salvage of the pair of 9 foot tall mosaic tile columns with gilt Corinthian capitols that originally flanked the fountain, a pair of bronze exterior sconces that were on each side of the massive entrance door with a bronze grill and a pair of impressive 9 foot tall oak arched doors. A number of 6 by 6 inch Wheatley decorative tiles from around the showroom and many decorative floor tiles, including two cold air returns depicting parrots, were recovered.

When cleaned and prepared all of the artifacts from this historical building will be displayed in the Wooden Nickel Antiques showrooms in Cincinnati located at 1400-1414 Central Parkway. Wooden Nickel deals primarily in 19th and 20th century decorative arts and has made a name for itself in art and artifacts with a Cincinnati provenance such as Cincinnati Art Carved furniture, works by local artist T. C. Lindsay, works by 19th century Cincinnati craftsmen Mitchell and Rammelsberg, items from the Cincinnati Artistic Iron Works and many examples from Cincinnati’s turn of the century leaded glass studios.

For more information contact Wooden Nickel at (513) 241-2985, email woodennickel@fuse.net or visit the website at http://www.woodennickelantiques.net

written by:
Fred Taylor
www.furnituredetective.com
800-387-6377


PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR WOODEN NICKEL

Original Wheatley Tile showroom prior to demolition.

 



 One of a pair of mosaic columns

 










 




 Wheatley cold air return depicting parrots

 










 

 The fountain and the wall have been cut from the building. 

 



 












A steel frame has been welded around the wall section so it can be lifted by chain hoist.

 
 







 









The crated wall section has been tipped on it side for the trip to the Wooden Nickel showroom.


 










 


The Wheatley Tile Showroom prior to demolition.

 


A 6 x 6in Wheatley wall tile depicting a knight.
















 






Wooden Nickel owner Michael Williams stand beside the recovered fountain in the Wooden Nickel showroom.


 

LABOR DAY WEEKEND WAS HOT AT THE WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUES FESTIVAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 10, 2010

CONTACT: Kay Puchstein

(941) 697-7475

The weather was warm but attendance, sales and interest in antiques and collectibles were all sizzling at summer’s end.

(West Palm Beach, FL) West Palm Beach Antiques festival owners Kay and Bill Puchstein continue to be amazed and pleased that their creative scheduling of antique shows during the Florida summer has been so warmly received by customers and dealers. They reported that when the Labor Day edition of the Festival opened Saturday September 4 over 300 people were standing in line. They were especially pleased that some of their new and “out of the box” approaches have attracted a younger buying crowd. The Puchsteins said that dealer space for the October 2,3 show is almost sold out and dealers are signing up for the winter season beginning in November.

Every dealer who set up outside did very well for the two day holiday show as did most of the dealers inside with merchandise like A. E. Backus and Highwaymen paintings, lots of oak and country formal furniture and Hoosier cabinets. Vintage jewelry, coins, silver, oriental rugs, were good sellers as were guns, dolls, postcards, beads, glass, pottery, vintage linens and handbags.

One of the pioneering ideas found at the West Palm Beach Antiques Festival is the restoration services offered by Steve Allred and the West Palm Beach Restoration Studios. While Allred’s personal restoration specialty is high end porcelain Palm Beach Restoration Studios works with a network of competent and qualified restoration professionals who cover a broad range of specialties including furniture, oil paintings, art and almost any other category of antiques and collectibles. These artisans and artists combine traditional techniques with the latest technology of the trade.

Visitors can drop off articles in need of Allred’s services and pick them up on a subsequent visit to the Festival. In the Palm Beach Restoration booth Allred displays examples of the network’s finished products as well as accepting new projects for completion before the next event. He also supervises the on-site repair of glass and crystal in the booth.

Allred has expanded both the size and the scope of Palm Beach Restoration Studios, expanding to a 9,000 square foot facility and adding a consumer information service. The Studio sponsors classes in porcelain restoration, wood items restoration and identification of antiques including how to distinguish between genuinely old artifacts and reproductions or forgeries. The classes range from Beginner to Advanced in technicality and are open to the public. The Studio also offers appraisals for damage claims and fraud and offers instruction on how to properly pack, ship and insure antiques and art. Information on all the services and classes is available at the Studio booth in the Festival.

The last of the two day Summer Shows before returning to the three day format in November will be October 2,3. Show hours are 10:00AM – 5:00PM on Saturday and 10:00AM – 4:30PM on Sunday. Adult daily admission $7.00, seniors $6.00 with a $1 discount coupon for adult admission available on the website. Anyone under 16 is admitted free. Early Buyer’s admission on Saturday morning at 9:00AM is $10.00 and is good for both days. There is no charge for parking at the Fairgrounds.

The West Palm Beach Antiques Festival is held at the South Florida Fair located off Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach, FL, 1.5 miles west of the Florida Turnpike and 1 mile east of 441/SR7. For more information contact the West Palm Beach Antiques Festival at (941) 697-7475, email info@wpbaf.com or visit the website at www.wpbaf.com.

PHOTO CAPTION FOR WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUES FESTIVAL

The Palm Beach Restoration Studio’s booth at the Festival shows off finished results and accepts new projects as well as providing information about their new class schedule.

2010 EDITION OF JOURNAL OF ADVANCED APPRAISAL STUDIES JUST RELEASED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2010




CONTACT: Todd Sigety
(703) 836-1020

The Foundation for Appraisal Education has announced

the publication of the third annual edition of its appraisal guidelines.

(Chicago, IL) The 2010 edition of Journal of Advanced Appraisal Studies contains eighteen in depth original research articles, reviews and topical discussions relating to personal property appraisal. While the Journal is targeted primarily at professional property appraisers, it also contains useful insights and information for anyone associated with the business of personal property such as auction houses, estate lawyers, insurance brokerage houses, museums and cultural property conservators.

According to Michael Conner Ph. D, ISA–AM, the mission of the Foundation is to “promote the advancement of education related to personal property appraising.” The Foundation was formed in 2002 as an independent arm of the International Society of Appraisers. The Foundation raises funds to provide scholarships for continuing studies for both new and veteran appraisers by publishing the Journal

The 2010 edition continues the targeted approach with entries regarding research reports, authentication, appraisal theory, appraisal methodology, marketing and opinion pieces and interviews. One interesting article by Jane C. Brennom, ISA CAPP titled “Appraisers vs Authenticators” delves into the role of the professional appraiser as an authenticator as well as an appraiser. This article is available on the Journal website at http://www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org/journal.html. Other topics include “For Love or Money: Antiques as Investments” by Hollie Davis and Andrew Richmond of Maine Antiques Digest’s “The Young Collector”, “The Deaccessioning Debate: What Appraisers Need to Know” by art attorney Mark S. Gold, “Original Research and Innovative Appraisals” by Elin Lake, Ph.D. ASA, “The Art Market: How Lending Fuels Art Crime” by Elizabeth Sebesky,“Fantasy Furniture by Designers: Mark, Mont, Duquette, and Springer” by Soodie Beasley, ASA AM, “Establishing the Appraisers Library” by Jerry Sampson and “ Personal Property Appraising and the Element of Time” by Scott Zema.

The first annual edition of the Journal was launched in 2008 with twenty three articles by important names in the appraisal world such as Leon Castner, ISA, CAPP, the current Director of Education for the International Society of Appraisers, David J. Maloney, publisher of “Maloney’s Antiques & Collectibles Resource Directory” and Daphne Lange Rosenzweig, ISA, CAPP, an expert in oriental appraisals.

The 2009 edition includes articles such as “Market Based Art Valuations” by Jianping Mei and Michael Moses, “Issues in Identification and Authenticity of Artist’s Signatures” by Graham Ospreay and “Combining Metrics, Standards and Connoisseurship: A Weighted Factor Scoring Model” by Robert J. Corey.

The 320 page 2010 edition of the Journal, edited by Todd Sigety, is available for $55 at http://www.appraisaljournal.org/contents.html. Previous editions are available for $35 on the same site. For more information visit the Journal’s websites at http://www.appraisaljournal.org and http://www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org/journal.html to read an excerpt article and visit the home page of the Foundation at http://www.foundationforappraisaleducation.org/index.html

You can contact the Foundation for Appraisal Education at 201 W Lake St # 214

Chicago IL, 60606, telephone 312 924-1832, email info@foundationforappraisaleducation.org.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF APPRAISERS ANNOUNCES FALL EDUCATION SCHEDULE

                                                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   
August 18, 2010


CONTACT: International Society of Appraisers
Michelle Stearns, Education & Credentialing Coordinator
(312) 981-6778


Five courses are scheduled for September and October plus several Webinars each month.

(Chicago, IL) Director of Education for the International Society of Appraisers Leon Castner, ISA CAPP has announced a full and challenging Fall schedule of courses for ISA member appraisers as well as non-members. Following the successful Assets 2010 Annual Conference in Toronto, the ISA continues to focus on its primary mission of education for its members.

The Fall schedule begins with two classes scheduled for September 28-October 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Chicago. The course offerings are Appraisal of Fine Arts with instructors Richard Casagrande, ISA CAPP and Cathy Peters, ISA CAPP and Appraisal of Antiques & Residential Contents with instructors David Mapes, ISA CAPP and Karen Rabe, ISA CAPP. All are veteran ISA instructors. Both courses are new versions of the course and include several new topics. Pre course reading and a written assignment are required for both courses.

The Fine Arts course emphasizes the primary categories of fine art frequently encountered by appraisers and dealers – paintings, sculpture, works on paper, photography, animation art, Russian icons and Spanish Colonial art. Major areas of focus include art history, identifying and researching fine art works, properly describing art works and a field trip to a local Museum such as the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Antiques & Residential Contents Course provides information necessary to properly identify and value items falling into the broad category of antiques and residential contents. The focus is on construction and manufacturing, and discerning the difference between “good,” “better” and “best” quality. Course sections include furniture, ceramics, glass, silver, toys and dolls, and vintage fashions as well as general household contents and includes a trip to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.

Enrollment for each course for ISA members is $1200. Non-members are welcome to register for $1470.

Those courses are followed in Naperville, IL (Chicago) on October 4-5 by the Requalification Course required every five years for members and is also offered as a Distant Education course if attendance onsite is not possible. Castner is the instructor for this course which is essential in maintaining knowledge of current ISA standards, particularly in appraisal methodology, industry regulations and report writing. This course is open only to those who have completed the ISA Core Course or are bridging to ISA from other organizations. Enrollment is $625 with an early enrollment discount. See the website for details of the Distant Education version of this course.

The 15 Hour National USPAP course follows on October 7-8 in Naperville. This course is intended to fulfill the National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice requirement for credentialed membership levels within a professional property appraisal organization. The course instructor will be Roger Durkin, a personal property attorney. Enrollment is $300 for members, $450 for non-members.

The final course of the year is the Core Course. The Core Course is the “nuts and bolts” approach to personal property appraising in all disciplines and is the starting point for anyone interested in becoming a personal property appraiser. The Course is an action packed seven day marathon held in Naperville, IL in conjunction with Northern Illinois University that includes hands on experience outside the classroom. The seven day course includes everything a prospective appraiser needs to begin a new career including practice appraisals and written appraisals. Class activities include inventorying property, using the computer for research on internet sites, finding comparable sales, and will include examples of good and bad appraisals. Enrollment for members is $1150 and $1500 for non-members.

Castner’s newest expansion of the education program is the presentation of several one hour webinars each month. The subject rotates between specialty topics and methodology subjects with some free informational versions included. Registration is open to anyone and ISA membership is not required. Registration details are available on the ISA website.

For information about all of the professional education opportunities offered by the ISA visit the website at http://www.isa-appraisers.org, call Michelle Stearns at (312) 981-6778, email isa@isa-appraisers.org or write to ISA, 737 North Michigan Ave., Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60611.