Appraising Latin American art and Spanish-language assignments

South American and Mexican art is appraised in the markets that actually trade those artists — not by borrowing prices from an unrelated American or European canvas market. Language of the household does not change the definition of value.

The markets

Experience in the field matters when the collection is in the field. If the artist market lives in a literature the appraiser does not have, the honest step is to say so. Documents arrive in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

The assignments stay the same

Insurance remains retail replacement value. Charitable donation, estate planning, estate tax, and equitable distribution remain fair market value, to USPAP. Reports are typically written in English unless counsel asks for something else. Conversations can be in Spanish when staff and client need that.