Fine Art & Sculpture
Paintings, works on paper, prints, photographs, sculpture and other works of art.
Independent · Principal-led · Established 2005
Deceased Estate Valuations
Independent specialist valuations of fine art, jewellery, watches, antiques, collectables and other significant movable assets for deceased estates.
DefineArt assists executors, attorneys, fiduciary practitioners, beneficiaries and families where an estate contains assets that require specialist identification, research and valuation beyond conventional household contents.
Specialist movable assets
When an estate needs specialist valuation expertise
Statutory Appraiser: Simon Blundell MA is appointed in terms of section 6(1) of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965, District of Cape Town.
The administration of a deceased estate can involve possessions whose value is difficult to establish through conventional household valuation methods.
Works of art, jewellery, watches, antiques and collections may be affected by authorship, maker, rarity, provenance, condition, specialist demand and the market in which an asset would ordinarily be considered. Historic purchase prices or insurance values may therefore be inappropriate for a different valuation purpose.
Not every possession in an estate requires specialist valuation. DefineArt can initially review photographs or an existing inventory and help identify those assets that warrant specialist attention, allowing the scope to remain focused and proportionate.
Scope of expertise
Assets we value for deceased estates
Assignments may involve a single significant item, a specialist collection or selected assets within a wider household inventory.
Jewellery & Watches
Fine and designer jewellery, diamonds, gemstones, precious metals, luxury and collectable watches.
Antiques & Decorative Arts
Furniture, silver, ceramics, glass, clocks, rugs and other decorative objects.
Coins, Medals & Militaria
Numismatic material, medals, militaria and specialist historical collections.
Books, Stamps & Collectables
Rare books, philatelic material, memorabilia and other specialist collections.
Unusual & Significant Assets
Individual objects or mixed collections requiring specialist identification, research or market analysis.
Purpose-specific valuation
The correct basis of value matters
A valuation should always reflect its intended purpose. A value prepared for a deceased estate may differ materially from an insurance replacement value, which considers the cost of replacing an asset in the relevant retail or specialist market.
DefineArt establishes the purpose of the instruction at the outset and applies an appropriate valuation basis and methodology to the assets being assessed.
Where assets are subsequently retained by beneficiaries and require insurance, a separate insurance replacement valuation can be prepared where appropriate.
A clear professional process
How an estate valuation works
- 01
Initial review
We discuss the estate requirements and review available inventories, photographs and supporting information.
- 02
Scope & inspection
We identify the assets requiring specialist attention and confirm whether desktop or onsite assessment is appropriate.
- 03
Research & valuation
Relevant artists, makers, comparable objects, provenance and market evidence are researched and assessed.
- 04
Independent report
A clear report records the assets assessed, the stated valuation purpose and the values attributed to them.
Cape Town & nationwide
Desktop and onsite estate valuations
Depending on the nature and complexity of the assets, an assignment may be completed through an onsite inspection, desktop assessment from suitable documentation and photographs, or a combination of the two.
Desktop preliminary review can be particularly useful at the outset, enabling the executor or adviser to establish which items are likely to require formal specialist valuation before commissioning a wider exercise.
For an initial review, useful information includes:
- An existing estate or household inventory
- Clear overall and detail photographs
- Signatures, marks, labels and serial numbers
- Dimensions, materials and condition notes
- Invoices, certificates, provenance or prior valuations
Professional collaboration
Working with executors, attorneys & fiduciary practitioners
DefineArt works independently and can liaise directly with executors, attorneys, fiduciary practitioners, trust companies, accountants, beneficiaries and other advisers involved in the administration of an estate.
Where a general household inventory already exists, the specialist scope can be confined to the assets that genuinely require additional expertise. This avoids unnecessarily applying specialist valuation procedures to ordinary household contents while ensuring that potentially significant assets receive appropriate attention.
For professional advisers, DefineArt can also review photographs or schedules at an early stage and advise whether specialist valuation input appears warranted.
Why DefineArt?
Independent expertise, personal accountability
More than two decades in specialist valuation practice.
Direct communication with Simon Blundell MA throughout the assignment.
No buying, selling or auction commission on the assets valued.
Experience across fine art, jewellery, collectables, museums, heritage and unusual tangible assets.
Purpose-specific, carefully researched valuation documentation.
Cape Town based, with suitable onsite and desktop assignments throughout South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
Deceased estate valuation FAQs
Does every item in an estate need a specialist valuation?
No. In many estates only selected assets require specialist attention. DefineArt can review photographs or an inventory first to help identify which items are likely to warrant specialist valuation.
Can you value inherited art, jewellery and watches?
Yes. DefineArt regularly assesses specialist movable assets including fine art, jewellery, watches, antiques, collectables, coins, medals, rare books and memorabilia.
Can the valuation be completed remotely?
Some assignments can be completed from clear high-resolution photographs and adequate supporting information. Where condition, attribution, construction or other physical characteristics are important, an onsite inspection may be recommended.
Is an estate valuation the same as an insurance valuation?
No. The appropriate basis of value depends on the purpose of the instruction. If inherited assets are retained and need to be insured, a separate insurance replacement valuation may be appropriate.
Do you work directly with executors and fiduciary practitioners?
Yes. DefineArt can liaise directly with executors, attorneys, fiduciary practitioners, trust companies, accountants, beneficiaries and other professional advisers.
Valuation insight
Understanding specialist assets in a deceased estate
For practical guidance on valuation purpose, date of death, specialist contents and the role of an appraiser, read Valuing Art, Antiques and Collectables in a Deceased Estate in South Africa.
Confidential enquiries
Discuss a Deceased Estate Valuation
If you are administering an estate containing fine art, jewellery, watches, antiques, collectables or other assets that may require specialist valuation, send a brief description, photographs or an existing inventory for an initial assessment of the scope.