Services

Appraisal

Randall Hixenbaugh, a recognized expert in the field of ancient art, is an accredited member of the Appraisers Association of America and is qualified to perform appraisals of antiquities, including: ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Pre-Columbian Art. Over the last twenty years, Mr. Hixenbaugh has appraised thousands of antiquities worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He has written appraisals for America’s most prominent museums, universities, and government agencies including for US federal courts and for US Customs detentions and seizures. His appraisals have been submitted as evidence in several legal cases. He has testified on the stand as an expert witness in cases involving ancient art.

Appraisal reports are detailed documents that include in-depth analysis of antiquities within the context of the worldwide market for ancient art. The reports are illustrated with comparable pieces in both museum collections and the art trade that establish authenticity, proper attribution, quality, condition, rarity, and value. All appraisals are rendered in accordance with the guidelines and by-laws of the Appraisers Association of America and are valid for estate planning, charitable donation, and insurance purposes. Appraisals are written in complete compliance with the 2014 Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), written by the Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation. This congressionally sanctioned, not-for-profit organization is dedicated to the advancement of professional practice to ensure public trust in the work performed by appraisers. Mr. Hixenbaugh’s many charitable donation appraisals have never been called into question by the IRS.

Notably, Mr. Hixenbaugh recently appraised the Ancient Cycladic Art Collection of Mr. L. Stern that he donated to the Hellenic Ancient Culture Institute. This collection is now on long term loan at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museums of the Hellenic Republic of Greece. This was the largest charitable donation of antiquities ever made.

Our other recent clients include:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Brooklyn Museum of Art
The Corning Museum of Glass
The Franklin Institute
The Dallas Museum of Art
The American Friends of the Israel Museum
The Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University
The Museum of Fine Art, St. Petersburg
The City College of New York
The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art
The Princeton University Art Museum
Bard College
Rutgers University
Dartmouth College
The Museum of the Living Torah
Texas A & M University
Bucknell University
Oklahoma State University
Boston College
Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Office of Federal Public Defender, Los Angeles, California
Pearlstein & McCullough LLP
Royal-Athena Galleries
AXA Insurance
Chubb Insurance

Consulting

Mr. Hixenbaugh is available for consultation with regards to building and cataloging collections, as well as advising in terms of dispersing existing collections. Our in-depth involvement in the international antiquities trade enables us to advise the best avenues for adding to or culling from your collection. We assist our clientele in bidding in foreign auction sales and we can provide advice regarding international trade regulations, as well as shipment and navigating customs formalities.

Provenance Research

Provenance is of paramount importance in the art world, and this is especially so in the sphere of antiquities. Our extensive library and long involvement in the antiquities trade place us in a unique position to assist in researching the provenance of collections of ancient art.

Scientific Tests and Forensic Analysis

Hixenbaugh Ancient Art is able to provide for our clientele through leading experts in the field, a full range of scientific testing and analysis relating to the authentication and attribution of antiquities. This includes thermoluminescence testing for pottery, radio-carbon dating for organic material, isotopic analysis of stone, patina and metal analysis, and radiography.

Restoration and Repair

We utilize the most respected conservationists and restorers in the field and can assist our clientele in finding the appropriate art professionals for their needs.

Mounting and Display

Presentation of artwork is paramount to the appreciation of the private collector. We work with the most accomplished base makers and installers in the field and are available to advise in terms of the aesthetic and environmental considerations of proper display of antiquities collections.

Object and Gallery Rental

We have a large inventory of ancient art and have provided unique pieces for a number of photographers, designers and decorators for various space stagings, fashion shoots, and events.

Our gallery itself is a unique space filled at any given time with a myriad of astonishing objects. The gallery has been the site of major photo and film productions and is available for rental for this purpose.