Jerry L. Dobesh, ASA, is a Portland, Oregon, based antiques appraiser who specializes in appraisals for estates and trusts, insurance, and donations. Jerry is an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers, with a specialty designation in antiques & decorative arts. One of Jerry’s areas of strong expertise is antique silver.
Contact Jerry for a quote, or call.
Do you need an appraisal to insure your antique or fine silver? A credible appraisal with accurate and current value conclusions will be helpful in determining accurate replacement value coverage.
Or did you just inherit family heirlooms, but you don’t know much about them, and you have no idea what they're worth? Often times, the marks can be incomplete, or hard to decipher. Having the experience to know quality helps. A beautiful pair of Faberge open salts, as swimming carp, was identified by a mark no larger than a pencil point, and a scratched inventory number.
Or perhaps you’re trying to divide an estate fairly, and you’re not sure if your Grandmother’s tea service is silver or plate, let alone whether it dates from the 18th century or 1980. Jerry can help.
Many attributes contribute to the value of a piece of silver. First, of course, might be what is it? Who made it? When was it made? Is it original? What condition is it in? Are the marks original, or have the marks been added? Are there any inscriptions? All of these features have an impact on value. Sometimes, more important than the piece of silver itself, is the history, or provenance. Provenance can add substantially to the value of pieces of silver. Was it part of a royal service? Was it owned, or presented, by someone famous?
Jerry knows what is important about silver, both antique and contemporary. He understands the markets, including the dealer and collector markets, as well as the various levels of auction markets.
Jerry has appraised innumerable pieces of silver over the past 30 years. From sets of coin silver teaspoons to presentation goblets, tea and coffee services, bowls, beakers, candelabra, fonts, flatware services, servers and implements of many types, even a large model sailing ship!
When you want to know what you have, what your antique or fine silver is worth, and you want someone you can trust, contact contact Jerry to schedule an appraisal, or give him a call.
Appraising is his only business. Jerry will not buy your property, or sell it on consignment. Jerry has the knowledge, experience, and resources to know what you have. You receive professional objectivity without conflict of interest.
Jerry is a professional appraiser. He is not a dealer. He is not an estate liquidator. His fees are never based on the value of the items. Jerry’s sole interest is to provide you with an accurate, well supported, and unbiased appraisal.
Jerry has been in the antiques field for over 40 years, as a dealer, an auction house evaluator/appraiser, and as an independent appraiser. He specializes in antiques & decorative arts, and is an accredited senior appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers. Prior to founding his own private practice, Jerry spent over a decade as a full-time dealer, working in most of the United States and Canada. Then as an auction house evaluator/appraiser, he consigned, estimated, and sold a wide range of antiques, firearms, collectibles, and decorative and fine artworks. He served as the director of both the fine art and firearms departments. As an independent appraiser, Jerry provides trusted appraisals for estates, trusts, insurance, charitable contribution, and other needs. His reports are USPAP compliant, and meet the 2020 IRS Qualified Appraiser/Qualified Appraisal requirements.
While the majority of Jerry’s work is in the Portland and Vancouver metro area, every year includes appointments statewide, including Bend, Eugene, and the Oregon Coast. He is willing to travel as necessary, and regularly works in Washington State, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Over the past 40 years, Jerry has worked in nearly every state.