Appraisers

Joy Aiken
Joy Aiken has a Graduate Gemologist (GG) certification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She is a Senior Member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers. Appraising is Joy's second career. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism from UT and worked as a writer and editor for many years. In fact, her work as a staff writer at GIA in Santa Monica, California -- plus her interest in the decorative arts, history, and antiques --eventually lead her to appraising. Joy's Texas roots run deep -- her forebear Hermon Aiken settled in central Texas in the 1830s.

Cyndi Brown, Hidden Treasures

Hidden Treasures is an estate sale company based in Wimberley TX. Owners Dottie Oakford and Cyndi Brown have been friends for over 10 years. They decided to merge their love for antiques and the elderly. Hidden Treasures assists senior citizens to liquidate their estates when downsizing. Cyndi a hospice nurse, also utilizes her skills in the difficult task of helping bereaved families make appropriate choices in choosing heirlooms.

Dottie Oakford is a Texan resident of over 35 years has been a collector all her life. A native of Ohio, she acquired a love for antiques while a young bride. Blessed with a natural “eye” for fine workmanship, Dottie’s collections ranges from fine furniture and figurines to textiles and toys.

Dottie, in an effort to better understand the value of her purchases, sought out information and became self-educated with assessing the subtleties of her collections and the impact they would have on value.

A general contractor by trade, Dottie’s husband helped to foster this love by creating their home in Wimberley, a reflection for their love of fine craftsmanship

Cyndi Brown has lived in Wimberley for over 10 years and has been an appraiser for nearly 25 years. Traveling by bicycle at the age of 14 to a local auction near her home in Kentucky, Cyndi purchased her first piece of art pottery that fueled her lifelong passion for antiques. Specializing in “smalls” (glass, pottery, and porcelain items), Cyndi continued to collect while attending Berea College in Kentucky while a student worker as an archivist in the college library.

Ever the advocate, Cyndi became concerned when she would attend sales held by families who would grossly under value their items. In an effort to address these needs, Cyndi became an ISA accredited appraiser with the hope of enlightening the public. By providing appraisal fairs for many groups in the Central Texas area, Cyndi takes pride in helping to educate owners in the value and historical impact of their antiques. Frequently a repeat speaker, Cyndi has provided appraisal fairs for the Fredericksburg Ladies Auxiliary, Hays County Library, Buda Library, and the Lakeway Antiques Club to name a few.

Cyndi is currently assisting the family of a local university president and former cabinet member under the LBJ administration. She has helped the family in determining the value and preservation of 5 generations of native Texan history.

Hidden Treasures has been proud to have liquidated 100’s of estates, including the estate of the founders of what is now the Thermos Company. They take pride in holding sales that provide compassionate closure for bereaved families while maximizing revenue for the estate.


Leo Collas

Leo Collas was born in Colorado, but was raised in Honolulu by parents who had been in the restaurant business for generations. He returned to the mainland in the mid 1980s and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Regis University in Colorado.

An avid collector for over 30 years, Leo has become a silver expert, recording trends in 20th century American silver design. He moved to Austin in 1993 and soon became associated with Fancy Finds in the Whit Hanks Antiques Gallery at 6th & Baylor. Leo is presently working on a book documenting Arts & Crafts to Art Moderne silver in America.

Outside of the antiques world, Leo has had a long career in finance as a stock broker, corporate controller, consultant, and financial analyst.


Linda Dickson, Estate Glass Specialty

I've been sharing my enthusiasm for antiques and collectible glass for 25 years, and with Austin for 13 years, as the owner of Estate Glass Specialties. Speaking to local clubs and organizations, participating in many appraisal fairs, and trying generally to help others learn more about their own glass pieces, have given me opportunities to meet others interested in the fascinating area of collectible glass.

Long collecting experience combined with avid study have afforded me a wide range of information to share with your donors. My specialty is Early American Pattern Glass, Depression Glass, and Elegant Depression Era Glass, though I can confidently recognize and identify the majority of collectable glass.

Through Estate Glass Specialties, I offer several special services including identification, fair market value appraisals, and complete estate sales services.

linda@estateglass.com


Donna Endres, Istanbul to Samarkand

Donna Endres, internationally recognized Oriental rug expert and owner of ISTANBUL TO SAMARKAND rug gallery in Austin, specializes in antique and tribal rugs and carpets. She began her quarter-century career during a two-year cultural exchange program in Turkey, after which she continued to visit weaving centers in the Middle East and beyond. Over time, her interest in rugs and textiles expanded to include traditional weavings from other eastern hemisphere regions, along with the history of these groups.

Endres conducts lectures and seminars on Oriental rugs and ethnographic weaving to rug and textile groups, including a 6-week SAGE seminar on Eastern Hemisphere rugs at the University of Texas Thompson Center. She was an invited speaker at the most recent American Conference on Oriental Rugs in Boston.

Rugs from Endres gallery decorate The University of Texas Center for Middle Eastern Studies and The James A. Michener Center for Texas Writers in the J. Frank Dobie House. Pieces from her private collection were selected to be part of the juried Hajji Baba Club 75th Anniversary Exhibition, Timbuktu to Tibet, at the New-York Historical Society Museum through September 2008, continuing at the Textile Museum, Washington D.C. through March 2009. In October 2009, an oversized 19th century Charchango, Kizil Ayak Turkmen carpet from Endres’ collection went on display at the Blanton Museum as part of the solo U.S. exhibition of Italian Renaissance paintings, "Paolo Veronese: The Petrobelli Altarpiece."

Endres also oversees the care and restoration of collectible antique rugs for individuals and institutions, including rugs in the Francis Scott Key collection at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas. As an independent researcher and appraiser, USPAP-certified by the American Society of Appraisers, Enders catalogs and evaluates rug and textile collections, and advises clients on acquisitions and disbursements.

Endres’ rugs and textiles are found in collections in the United States, Canada and Europe. Selected examples, as part of a collection assembled for a notable client, are featured in the October 2003 Architectural Digest. She is listed as a Trusted Source on the widely read Oriental Rug Notes website and is a member of the specialty online salon, Turkotek. A video showing Endres’ rug gallery, collection and travels can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZT8FfyaM2s

ISTANBUL TO SAMARKAND
ACCOLADE APPRAISAL & CONSULTING
www.tribalruggallery.com
By Appointment Only
901 West 31st St.
Austin, TX 78705
512 451-8533
Donna.endres@gmail.com


Jenny Howell

Current president of the Austin Doll Collectors' Society.

http://austindollcollectorssociety.blogspot.com/

Elaine Jackson

Past President, Show Chair of the Austin Doll Collectors' Society

http://austindollcollectorssociety.blogspot.com/


Tamara Karakozova, Swan Estate Sales

Swan Estates Sales was established in 2003 and is a family owned and operated business based in Austin, Texas with over 30 years experience in conducting appraisals and 20 years in Estate Sales. The owner, Tamara Karakozova and family came from Russia in 1990, but before then, she was a reputable collector and antique dealer of Icons and Paintings. Tamara has begun the process of obtaining her certification from the Appraisers Association of America (status pending). She holds a Masters Degree in Information Technology. Contact information can be found at: http://www.swanestatessales.com/ or Swan Estates Sales, 8822 McCann Dr, Austin, TX 78757, phone 512.345.7542


Marcia Kaylakie, textiles

Marcia Kaylakie has been making, collecting, and appraising quilts since 1988, and is a Quilt and Quilted Textile Appraiser certified by the American Quilters Society. She is a member of the International Society Appraisers and has many years experience working with textiles.  She has appeared in numerous books, magazines, newspaper articles, and has been a guest on two television shows in Austin, Texas on the making of religious quilts.  She was curator for Eye of the Needle, an exhibit of contemporary quilted textiles in 2007, and was guest curator for the exhibit, Quilts In Our Community, displayed in the Great Hall of the Texas Memorial Museum of Science and History in March 2003.    Marcia is a member of the Austin Area Quilt Guild, the American Quilter’s Society, The International Quilt Association, the American Quilt Study Group, the International Society of Appraisers and the Professional Association of Appraisers–Quilted Textiles.  She currently gives lectures and workshops nationally on quilts and quilt history in the United States, as well as judging quilt shows and appraising privately.  Her special interests include Mountain Mist quilts, coverlets, quilted textiles, Texas quilts and quilt makers, and art quilts.  Marcia lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Bill, and their two dogs.  They have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. 

www.texasquiltappraiser.com
Turkey Creek Quilts

Allen Kosub

Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers in the designated specialty: Oriental Rugs, with over 45 years of experience authenticating and valuing oriental rugs. Kosub is also a consultant to collectors, designers, litigators, insurance companies and rug dealers. Past Secretary and Vice-President San Antonio Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers.

www.rugappraiser.com


Ralph Mothener

I have been doing jewelry and watch appraisals in Austin since 1978. I am portable and go to the clients home or workplace. I receive referrals from 6 major insurance companies, 2 insurance brokers and 5 custom jewelers. I furnish the clients with 2 original appraisals and can fax 1 to their insurance company the same day the appraisal is completed. I also do estate appraisals. I am a member of GCAL (Gem Certification and Assurance Lab) and stay current on changing market conditions through Palmieri's Market Monitor.


Adam Muhlig

Adam Muhlig has completed appraisal work for the Berg Collection at the New York Public Library; Syracuse University, Special Collections; the University of Chicago, Special Collections; the Newberry Library; the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California at Los Angeles.

Other notable appraisal projects include: the archives of former Poet Laureates of the United States Ted Kooser and W.S. Merwin; longtime editor of Poetry, Joseph Parisi; the Joan Goodman journalism archive and the law library of Bryan A. Garner, editor in chief of Black’s Law Dictionary.

Editorial work includes Madness of Art: Interviews with Writers by Robert Phillips; Creative Glut: Essays by Karl Shapiro; News About People You Know by Robert Phillips; Field Guide to the Snakes of Texas by Alan Tennant and The New York Times bestseller, On the Wing by Alan Tennant.


Jonathan Tung, Lotus Gallery

Lotus Gallery is an internationally recognized gallery specializing in Asian antiques and decorative arts.

www.lotusasianart.com


Sharon Weintraub

Avid doll collector and past- president of the Austin Doll Collectors Society.

http://bawdybisques.blogspot.com


Sarah Williams

Independent jewelry appraiser