Antique & Valuation Experts

Value My Stuff is a leading online antique appraisal service with over fifty experts covering a vast range of different areas. Get your antiques valued today.

The founder of the company, Patrick van der Vorst, was a Director and Head of Department at Sotheby's London for over 12 years. His passion and enthusiasm for making the art-identifying and valuing process as approachable as possible, has driven him to create this easy-to-use website, launched in September 2009.

Often the art market can be perceived as not being very approachable, or the process of trying to get your item valued can be quite time consuming and complex. All of our antique experts have worked for Sotheby's, Christie's or other leading auction houses, and now offer their knowledge, covering over 35 collecting fields, in order to make the art valuing and appraisal process as straightforward and accessible as possible for you.

As we don't buy or sell any items, our approach is completely independent and unbiased!

During the Summer of 2010, Value My Stuff successfully appeared on BBC's Dragon's Den and received £100,000 investment from Deborah Meaden and Theo Paphitis. Patrick commented "It is a real asset to the company to have two experienced business people aboard our team and we look forward to further expanding our services in our quest to make art expertise accessible to all"

 

We have over forty expert antique valuers

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Antique Furniture

We have two dedicated specialists within this field of expertise. Our English Furniture Expert worked for Sotheby’s for over 30 years, cataloguing furniture sales in Sussex and putting together important house sales and sales of special individual collections. He became a director and specialised in Oak Furniture. Our Continental Furniture Specialist also used to work at Sotheby’s where, as a Director of the company, he ran the Department until Summer of 2009, focusing mainly on French and Italian 18th century furniture.

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Arms, Armour & Militaria

We have two experts in this field. Our expert in Arms, Armour and Militaria was formerly Head of Sotheby's Worldwide Department of Arms, Armour and Militaria and assisted Sotheby's with sales in London, New York, Denmark, Zurich, Billingshurst and Hanover. The sale of works of art from the Royal House of Hanover included arms and armour which sold for £4,764,004 ($8,392,610) which continues to stand as a World Auction Record for an ancestral collection in this field. Now running his own business, he is an authority in the military collecting field. We also have a specialist in 20th century, mainly World War I and II, militaria which have become increasingly more collectable in recent years.

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Australian & Aboriginal Art

Our Australian Art specialist worked for one of the top two international auction houses for over 20 years, eight of which were based in Australia. For the last few years he has been offering an advisory service for fine art and antiques based in Melbourne. His expertise covers all aspects `Australian' from modern contemporary paintings and indigenous works to early Colonial pieces and important historical items.

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Books

Our book expert has a life long interest in this fascinating area of expertise, starting at a young age with her father being an Antiquarian book and print dealer. With items ranging from 17th century leather bound books, to modern day publications such as Harry Potter first editions soft covers selling for over $19.000, this specialist field has evolved and seen an advent of new avid and powerful collectors, on the look out for these rare publications. Our specialist has unrivalled experience in providing valuations of rare books and has a wide knowledge of collectable books, including antique and contemporary works, fiction and non-fiction, children’s books and illustrated books.

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Carpets & Rugs

Our Carpet expert has worked for Sotheby’s and has substantial knowledge in his specialist field. Having travelled to many of the traditional carpet weaving countries in the Middle East, his understanding of the local cultures and influences which contributed to the exquisite carpet designs, is unrivalled. During his many years as an auctioneer, he has built up a tremendous knowledge of this complex but highly fascinating collecting field.

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20th Century Design

With the advent of a young generation of designers in the decorative arts from the 1960's onwards, this trend to focus on visual communication and presentation in the decorative arts has led to some of the most striking results in furniture, ceramic and glass making. Our design specialist is an art historian and registered valuer. After working as a decorative arts specialist for Sotheby's for more than 10 years, he established himself as an independent consultant, valuer and broker within his field of expertise. Working for private collectors as well as museums, he has curated several exhibitions on design and is actively involved in scholarly research on this subject, resulting in various publications and lectures. Design has long been regarded as the 'future collecting field'. Our specialist says: the future is now!

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Ceramics & Porcelain

After having worked for Phillips for many years, our Ceramics expert joined Sotheby’s where he valued ceramics and glass from numerous famous collections and country houses. Active in London and in the regions, he is still involved in major valuations in England and on the continent. His passion for the ceramics subject has made him one of the most knowledgeable and focused experts within this field.

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Chinese Art

We have three dedicated specialists within this field of expertise. Our first expert was formerly a director of Christie's and ran the Oriental Department at Christie's South Kensington from 1976 to 1990, when he left to set up his own Asian antiques business. Our second specialist was a senior director of Sotheby’s for over twenty years, with interests in a wide range of Works of Art and with overall responsibility for that company’s salerooms in Paris, Milan and Zurich. Our third expert has been specialising in decorative arts for a very long time and is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He has obtained a PhD in History of Art and has been in the business for forty years.

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Classic Cars

Our Classic Car expert has had over 30 years experience in this subject. An avid collector himself of classic cars and coaches, he has followed this market for the past three decades, and seen quite strong fluctuations in prices achieved for vintage vehicles. His fascination for classic cars, engines and race paraphernalia is a tremendous asset when it comes to valuing and advising our clients on their vintage items within this field of expertise.

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Clocks

Our clocks specialist has over 30 years experience in this area of expertise. He started his career at Garrards, the Crown Jewellers, and then spent 20 years working in auction houses, both for Bonham’s and Sotheby’s. His experience in both the auction and retail worlds, has given him tremendous knowledge of the fascinating world of clocks.

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Coins

Our coins expert has had an interest in this subject since childhood and from 1990 to 2005 worked as auctioneer and cataloguer for two of London's main numismatic auctioneers (Glendining's and Baldwin's). With his main speciality in commemorative coins, he has a deep knowledge of his subject and market and will be able to advise you on the value of your coins.

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Contemporary Art

The contemporary art market has seen a very strong steady increase in its prices, with a slight levelling off in the last 18 months. However, recent sales in February 2010, have seen a very solid and strong bounce-back, with their evening sale being the second most successful contemporary art auction ever to be held at Sotheby’s London. Our expert, who worked for Sotheby’s for over 13 years, has a deep knowledge of this market, whilst following closely all the major gallery shows and art fairs around the world such as Art Basel & Miami, Frieze London, Art Miami, The Armory Show New York, etc.

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Drawings

We have two dedicated specialists within this field of expertise: one for British drawings, the other specialising in Old Master drawings. Our British Drawings specialist has worked in the auction business for nearly two decades. Having worked for Sotheby’s, he is now working as a freelance valuer and auctioneer. Our Old Master Drawings expert has worked for Sotheby’s until 2009. With drawings ranging from rare Medieval Flemish drawings, to the Italian Renaissance and German Baroque, this field of expertise is one of the most exciting, revealing with each drawing the mind of the artist and the journey of creativity upon which he has embarked.

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Glass

The market for old glass is fairly slow at the moment, mostly because the new generation of collectors hasn’t picked up on it yet. That makes it a great time to purchase antique glass items. Our expert within this field confirms that it is a market with huge opportunities for buyers, but also that the rare and good pieces still make some substantial prices. Our expert would be delighted to examine the photographs of your glass objects, whether antique or modern.

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Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Middle Eastern Antiquities

Our expert has been involved in the Antiquities trade since 1989, initially for a dealer and then for a leading auction house; also conducting valuations for other organisations, both government and trade. She has been involved with and kept abreast of developments in legislation relating to this field.

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Indian Art

Our expert in Indian, Himalayan and South East Asian art was a deputy director at a leading London auction house after working there since 1985. For the last fifteen years he has worked as a dealer and consultant in the field, also writing and lecturing academically on the subject.

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Islamic Art

Our Islamic art expert was brought up and educated in Luxembourg. After spending her gap year in Florence, she completed her degree in History of Art at the University of East Anglia and at the Sorbonne, where she studied Islamic architecture. She spent a number of years as the assistant to a prominent dealer in Ottoman art in London, before joining the Islamic Art department at Christie’s in London. She joined Bonhams’ Islamic and Indian department, ultimately becoming head of department. She is now an independent art consultant, specialising in Islamic art.

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Jewellery

Our expert worked as an international specialist at Sotheby's and Christie's for ten years, both in London and Geneva. She was responsible for high end sales, and researched and sold several Royal and aristocratic collections. She is now running her own business and provides valuations, research and advisory in the jewellery and gemmology field. She is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association.

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Japanese Art

After graduating from Business College our Japanese art specialist joined Sotheby’s Japanese Art Department where he began a lifelong love and fascination for Far Eastern Art. He stayed there for ten years before managing a number of provincial auction houses outside of London. Later he returned to London as Director of Bonham's Oriental Art  Department. In the 90s he was head-hunted by a consortium of Singapore based businessmen who were setting up a group of auction houses across South East Asia and needed someone to recruit and train staff, organize the infrastructure of the business, devise marketing strategies and to oversee the running of the group. He moved to South East Asia where he spent many years traveling around the companies bases in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila. Returning to the UK in 2002 he consulted on Japanese Art with two major English museums and advised a number of auction houses on all aspects of Japanese Art.

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Medals

Our medal specialist commenced his career as a member of the Coin & Medal Department at Sotheby’s in 1980, cataloguing British & foreign orders, decorations & medals - a date that now makes him the longest-served auction specialist in this field. He was appointed an auctioneer in 1987, and later became head of a newly created department for medals & militaria. Reverting to a consultancy role in 1992, he moved to another well-known company in 1997 and thence to Dix Noonan Webb, in Mayfair, London, in 2002, an independent auction company that has achieved highest annual turnover in this field ever since 2000.

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Musical Instruments

With a Stradivarius violin selling for over $3.5 million and a 1957 Fender guitar selling for $50.000, the market for musical instruments is one where genuine surprises and astonishing results can be achieved. Our expert worked for Sotheby’s auctioneers before setting up his own independent consultancy business. His understanding of this complex but intriguing market is a tremendous asset to our website.

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Other

We do split this category between numerous experts, depending on what the item is. All of our experts have worked for Sotheby's, Christie's or any other leading auction houses and would have a large portfolio of contacts they can call upon to make sure we give you the best possible service and most accurate valuation and identification of your object. We have value flags, buttons, old sewing machines and other unusual items. Surprisingly some of them are worth quite a lot of money!

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Paintings

We have two dedicated specialists within this field of expertise. Our British Paintings specialist has worked in the auction business for 17 years, joining Sotheby's saleroom in Billingshurst in 1992. After leaving Sotheby's at the end of 2001, he has worked as a freelance valuer and auctioneer. Working part time at Arundel Castle in West Sussex, his passion and fascination for mainly British Paintings, has made him one of the authorities within this field. Our Old Master Paintings expert worked for over the last nine years in a London auction house and throughout his career closely with all three leading London salerooms over the past 12 years. He is predominately specalising in Italian 16/17th centuries but with a passion for all genre and schools of the European old masters. He is responsible for the discovery and reattribution of several important old master paintings during his career, most notably Felice Rizzo Brusasorzi and Baldassarre Franceschini, known as Il Volterrano. At the end of 2010, he left the salesrooms and became a freelance fine art consult and has since been involved in the research and valuing of important old master collections along with advising and helping to build important private collections.

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Photography

This area of expertise deals with photography works by 19th and 20th century American and European photographers, as well as works by cutting-edge contemporary photographers. Some of the major photographers can achieve substantial prices, such as Edward Weston, whose 1936 Charis Santa Monica print sold for $109,800 at Bonhams and Andreas Gursky’s Dubai World II selling for £445,000 at Sotheby’s last year. Our expert has a deep knowledge of both classic photographic artists and of their contemporary counterparts.

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Pop & Film Memorabilia

Our Pop Memorabilia expert has had numerous years of experience within the fascinating auction world of pop memorabilia expertise, meeting many pop and film stars on his journey. This area of collecting has dramatically increased in the last few years with new strong buyers coming to the market. The pop memorabilia feeds off a continuing progression of nostalgia as each generation rediscovers the fading soundtrack of its adolescence.

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Postcards

Our postcard expert has worked for one of the two leading auction houses in London for over 30 years and has unrivalled knowledge within this field of expertise with a total career of 46 years as a postcard valuer and auctioneer. With postcard collecting being one of the increasing collecting fields, this area of expertise provides a fascinating journey into the history of countries and their way of communicating and liaising throughout the ages through postcards.

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Prints

Our expert in antique and modern prints has worked for over 10 years at Sotheby's London before establishing himself as a freelance valuer. He covers prints ranging from early Durer and Rembrandt prints to more modern lithographs such as by Andy Warhol or Damien Hirst.

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Russian Works of Art & Fabergé

Our specialist worked at Sotheby’s for 5 years, travelling and appraising fine Russian works of art, and meeting great collectors. She presided over sales of exceptional private collections and unknown masterpieces uncovered due to the recent boom in the Russian art market. She is well acquainted with Russian craftsmen and manufacturers from the 18th Century to the early 20th Century.

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Scientific Instruments

Our specialist left Christie’s after twelve years' having set several world records for ship models and navigational instruments. Now an independent, he encompasses all aspects of the Scientific and Maritime spectrum and has achieved more world records since his departure in 2007, and has published articles on various collecting aspects of the subject.

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Sculpture

Our Works of Art and Sculpture specialists have combined experience of over 80 years within the auction business. With one expert specialising in Mediaeval sculpture, another in Renaissance works of art and a third expert focusing on 19th century sculpture, they offer an unrivalled depth of expertise. With unprecedented record breaking auction results for top quality items, the sculpture market is a vibrant one, where many new buyers have stepped in assembling unique collections.

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Silver

We have two dedicated specialists within this field of expertise. Our first expert has over twenty year’s experience in the business, starting as a specialist at Sotheby’s Bond Street silver department. After a two year stint on the West Coast of America, he returned to Sotheby’s in 1996 to become a Deputy Director, specialising in silver and objects of vertu. Our other expert has worked at Sotheby’s too, he joined in 1978 and has worked there for over 25 years, where he has built up unrivalled expertise in British and Irish silver. Combined, they make our Silver appraisal team one of the strongest in the business.

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Sporting guns

Our specialist has been working in the Gun Trade since 1982, when he first worked for Sotheby's both at their London and Sussex salerooms. Joining Sotheby’s full time in 1987, apart from a brief stint with London Gunmaker Boss & Co., he has spent his entire career working for or associated with Sotheby’s, the Worlds Leading Auction House. He has been involved in the sale of guns belonging to Heads of State, Royalty and Rock Stars, including many rare and unique pieces. Record prices have been achieved in almost every category and he continues to have an active involvement in this business.

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Sports Memorabilia

At Value My Stuff we have two experts working with sports memorabilia. Our first sports memorabilia expert founded an auction house in London that specializes in the sale of sporting memorabilia. He has worked for over 25 years in the auction business, including a stint as the Head of Sporting Memorabilia at Sotheby’s, before going solo with his own auction house. He has organized some of the most important sports memorabilia sales in recent history, including the auction of the possessions of the late, Sir Stanley Matthews. Our second sports memorabilia expert worked for Christie’s in their sporting department as tennis specialist for 13 years. He is a racket and equipment specialist at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum (Honorary) and runs a company in the sports industry which was formed in 1928 and has been involved in all racket sports, golf equipment, football etc. He has worked in the industry for over 40 years.

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Stamps

Our stamp expert has worked providing stamp valuations for one of the leading auction houses in London for over 30 years and has unrivalled knowledge within this field of expertise. His career spans 46 years as a stamp valuer and auctioneer. With stamp collecting still being one of the world's top collecting fields, this area of expertise provides a fascinating journey into the history of countries and their way of posting, communicating and liaising throughout the ages.

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Tapestries & Textiles

We have two different specialists within this area of expertise. Our tapestry expert is from Flemish origin, the home and centre of tapestry making during the Middle Ages and Renaissance times. Having worked for Sotheby’s for over 13 years, his passion for the subject and knowledge of the markets is a tremendous asset for our website. Our textiles expert has had a passion for this field for over 25 years and still works currently for an auction house where she further explores and deepens her knowledge of this complex but fascinating field.

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Toys & Dolls

Our expert worked for Sotheby’s, in Sussex for 25 years where she catalogued and valued dolls, teddy bears and other childhood memorabilia. Passionate about her field of expertise, she has seen the market change over the last 30 years, where dolls and toys have become increasingly collectible by the widest possible variety of audience ranging from 1900’s Steiff teddy bears to the more recent Star Wars memorabilia.

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Tribal Art

Our tribal art expert has worked for a leading auction house for more than 25 years and has organised regular sales in London, New York, Paris and Amsterdam. He is now an independent consultant and researcher with a particular interest in early historic oceanic collections.

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Watches

Our specialist worked at Sotheby’s from 1996-2009, travelling and appraising watch collections across the world. A director of the company, he spent time based in Geneva at the heart of the international watch industry, conducting auctions and running the Sotheby’s watch department there, before returning to head Sotheby’s London watch department.

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Wine

Our Wine Expert has collected and consumed wine for over 40 years. After running the Wine Department in 1974 for Phillips Auctioneers, holding sales in London, Edinburgh and Geneva, he joined Sotheby's where he contributed to Wine sales and assessed numerous prestigious wine cellars throughout Europe, coming across some of the finest wines ever produced. Passionate and dedicated in his field, he is still a consultant for Sotheby's nowadays and enjoys a good glass of Claret!

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