Appraisals
Policy
[From 麻豆原创MN Collections Management Policy]
XV. APPRAISALS AND AUTHENTICATIONS
DEFINITION: 鈥淎ppraisals鈥 are those assessments made regarding the financial value
of an object, whether for insurance or fair market value. 鈥淎uthentications鈥 are those
statements made that validate the genuine-ness of a given object, based on the expertise
of that individual making the statement.
A. APPRAISALS
1.禄禄禄 Museum staff may not appraise items in their disciplinary specialty that may
be donated on behalf of a private owner. The Museum may maintain a list of appraisers
but will not provide an endorsement.
2.禄禄禄 Museum staff will not offer legal or tax advice to donors or potential donors
regarding the tax or other legal implications of their donations and must inform the
donor that it is the donor鈥檚 responsibility to seek independent advice from a qualified
tax specialist or attorney.
3.禄禄禄 Appraisals may be performed by staff for internal use, such as for insurance
evaluations or for loans. Any such appraisal must represent an honest and objective
judgment and must indicate how the evaluation was reached.
4.禄禄禄 The Museum will not accept any donations believed to be improperly represented
as to legality, authenticity, condition, or value until such time as the original
claim has been substantiated by a competent, independent authority or until the attribution
or value has been changed to reflect the true character of the items offered for donation.
B. AUTHENTICATIONS
1.禄禄禄 It is beneficial to the Museum and its constituency for staff members to assist
collectors and other museum professionals in identifying, authenticating, and assessing
the scientific and/or aesthetic quality and conditions of specimens, artifacts, and
works of art.
2.禄禄禄 Information of this kind may be provided freely on an oral basis, but written
statements must be accompanied by the Museum鈥檚 disclaimer form or statement.
3.禄禄禄 Staff shall confine themselves to their areas of expertise.
4.禄禄禄 All assistance, whether written or oral, shall be provided free of monetary
or other compensation to staff members, however staff members may be reimbursed for
costs incurred, such as travel.
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