Old West Antiques - Services
Appraisal Services
Brian Lebel’s Old West Antiques, LLC provides appraisals in Western fine art, antiques, decorative arts, collectibles, and other property related to the North American West. Appraisal services include letters of opinion, value approximations, insurance valuations, and/or extensive reports and documents. Brian works directly with individuals, institutions and businesses to determine which services are best suited for each client’s unique needs. Single items and complete collections are welcome.
If you are considering selling your items for auction or private sale, please let us know this when scheduling an appraisal service. Because Old West Antiques also buys and sells inventory, we want to ensure that we avoid any possible conflicts of interest in your appraisal process. We are happy to discuss your overall thoughts and needs to help you determine your best course of action. Contact us at 484-639-9378 or contactus@brianlebel.com.
Appraisal Benefits
There are many different reasons to obtain a professional appraisal, including establishing value for insurance applications or claims, documenting charitable donations, estate services, financial planning and other times when an accurate report of value, obtained from an experienced individual, is critical. With 40 years as a leader in the Western Americana industry, Brian has the market expertise, and professional contacts, needed to provide both “Replacement Cost” and/or “Fair Market Value” appraisals to individuals, museums, corporations, insurance companies and others who require an honest assessment from a reputable, knowledgeable provider.
Appraisal Pricing
Appraisal fees are negotiable, and will be billed either by the hour, or for a flat fee, and are dependent upon a number of factors including the type of services required, the number of items to be appraised, the volume of research, travel requirements, and other practical considerations. We are often able to work from detailed photographs combined with condition reports, provenance, and/or other corroborating documents. Some appraisals require an onsite evaluation, and we prefer to work onsite when dealing with significant or historic material. Brian may provide a complimentary initial consultation (or several, depending upon complexity) to establish a plan and a price.
Current and Former Clients
Over the decades, Brian has done appraisals for many of the country’s top collectors, museums and insurance companies, including: The John Wayne Experience, Fort Worth, TX, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, WY; The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK; Museum of Northwest Colorado, Craig, CO; The McCracken Research Library, Cody, WY; Museum of the Old West, Cody, WY; Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA; Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum, Branson, MO; Roswell Museum & Art Center, Roswell, NM; Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK; Eiteljorg Museum of Western Art, Indianapolis, IN; Woolaroc Museum, Bartlesville, OK; Chubb Insurance; Allstate Insurance; Travelers Insurance; Fireman’s Fund, and other museums, private individuals and corporate clients.
Request Appraisal
Call us at 484-639-WEST (9378), or email contactus@brianlebel.com.
Please Note
Old West Antiques does not provide appraisals that require IRS Form 8283, though we may be able to recommend you to other qualified appraisers that do so.
Authentication Services
Brian Lebel and Old West Antiques do not authenticate fine art, artifacts, photographs or other personal property. Appraisals are estimates of value and are not intended to confer authenticity. Though we cannot recommend authentication professionals, we encourage you to seek legitimate provenance documents, particularly those that are contemporary in era to the item in question.
Sales & Acquisitions
Private Sales
Brian has been in the business of selling western art, antiques and collectibles for four decades, and has assembled an extensive network of collectors, curators, museums, sellers, auctions, clients and other resources for identifying and contacting prospective buyers. Additionally, Brian has the unique expertise to know whether particular items or collections are better suited for auction or private sale (some pieces sell better one way than the other), and the experience to understand that different clients might have different goals in selling their collections.
Acquisitions
Those looking to acquire fine Western Americana can trust that Brian will guide them in identifying reputable sellers, locating known and desirable items, negotiating fair terms, and protecting the confidentiality of all parties. Whether you are seeking special pieces to begin, further or complete your collection, Brian has the knowledge and experience to know where to find exactly what you’re looking for. And if he can’t find it, he’s got a pretty good idea who can.
Get in touch:
Call us at 484-639-9378, or email contactus@brianlebel.com.
Consulting and Museum Services
From consulting on historical accuracy for films to advising museums on deaccession strategies, Brian Lebel is uniquely qualified to assist with Western antiques and artifacts in a wide variety of areas, some of which we haven’t even thought of yet. Contact Brian anytime to discuss your ideas: 484-639-9378 or contactus@brianlebel.com.