Appraiser Profile
As Owner and Principal Appraiser of Newton Fine Art Appraisal, Sally has been in the art business for more than twenty years with 15 years as a accredited appraiser. She began her career on the editorial staff at Architectural Digest in Los Angeles and then as a contributing fine art appraiser for Montgomery Gallery in San Francisco, an internationally recognized dealer specializing in 19th and 20th century European and American paintings. During her time at Montgomery Gallery, Sally appraised 20th century American paintings for insurance coverage, estate planning and charitable contributions.
Sally has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles and holds a Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Art from the University of California, Irvine. At UC Irvine she completed an in-depth curriculum including Fine Art Valuation and Methodology, Art Research and Analysis, Estate Planning and Tax Law, and Charitable Donations. A Certification in Appraisal Studies in Fine Art from the University of California, Irvine and the American Society of Appraisers is granted based on a rigorous peer review process and successful completion of the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice Examination. Personal Property Appraisers must take the 7-Hour National USPAP update course once every two calendar years. Sally is up-to-date and compliant through September 2025 with USPAP. The USPAP Ethics Code insures appraisers produce independent, accurate and unbiased appraisal reports that are compliant with IRS tax guidelines and insurance scheduling requirements.
With experience producing a variety of appraisal assignments, Sally provides her clients with the highest level of service and expertise.. Her appraisals are accurate and unbiased legal documents that involve extensive research and analysis of the art market. The result is a substantiated and defensible appraisal report. She specializes in 19th and 20th century American and European Art and Sculpture,, Modern and Contemporary Art, California Art, Fine Art Photography, Digital and Conceptual Art. Her experience includes a wide range of appraisal assignments including insurance scheduling, estate planning, equitable division of property and charitable donations. With an international network of art dealers and art specialists, she has access to a broad range of sales data at the gallery and auctions levels. She subscribes to three fine art databases that offer up-to-date gallery and auction sales data worldwide. Her personal library contains resource books on 19th and 20th century art including realism, impressionism, post impressionism, abstract expressionism, modern and contemporary art and fine art photography.
Professional Development
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices Examination - Biannual Update. Sally is compliant through Sept 2025.
Volunteers her time lecturing on Estate Planning for Fine Art to organizations including the San Francisco Yacht Club,
and the Sausalito Woman’s Club.
She holds memberships at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Achenbach Graphic Arts Forum at the de Young Museum and the San Francisco Yacht Club where she served on the Auxiliary Board (2020 - 2023)
Member, Art Table San Francisco
Recent Seiminars:
American Society of Appraisers — Determining Value in Today’s Complex Marketplace
American Society of Appraisers — Appraising Fine Art Photography
American Society of Appraisers — Appraising the Value of Frames