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ANTIQUES AND FINE ART APPRAISERS
APPRAISER'S QUALIFICATIONS 

Jan Gerald Milner moved to North Carolina from London in 1990, where he had served as an art appraiser, private dealer and fine art consultant in the field of fine art including antiques, paintings, drawings, and decorative arts for over twenty years.

The son of a career diplomat, Milner studied art history and painting at the American University in Washington, DC and at the Courtault Institute of Art in London, England. He worked for the auction house of WC Schoopmann and Sohn in Hamburg, Germany. Then he joined the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC as assistant to the curator from 1961-1964. After moving back to London he worked for and eventually was made a director of the WH Patterson Gallery. The gallery specialized in Dutch and English 19th century pictures. He has organized exhibitions of 18th century French drawings and also worked with Old Master 18th and 19th century European paintings and drawings. Milner is working on a catalogue raisonne of paintings of the French 19th century painter Henri Regnault. He has written for the Jewish Chronicle, London, "How to Invest in Antiques", and appeared on television in a number of programs on Art Investments.

His curatorial expertise has resulted in sales of works to such institutions as the National Portrait Gallery London, and H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. He has placed pictures and works of art in many museums, private collections and institutions worldwide. Milner has recently appraised works of art for important landmarks including the "Mustangs of Los Colinas" in Irving, TX.

Memberships include Appraiser's Association of America, Inc., International Foundation for Art Research, Historians of British Art, and the American Association of Museums.

Louise Phillips is a certified Member of the International Society of Appraisers.  She has been involved in the appraisal of personal property, antiques, and residential contents since 1986.  Louise is co-founded the North Carolina State Chapter of the International Society of Appraisers and has served a two year term as President of the chapter.  She is currently serving as treasurer.

Louise is also a Distance Education Instructor for the International Society of Appraisers which trains other appraisers in the correct methodology and process involved in performing an appraisal to USPAP standards.  She is a past member of the Residential Contents Committee.  Louise is certified in appreciable residential contents with a focus on antiques, ceramics, silver, furniture, and collectibles.  Projects have included large collections as well as multiple projects sites throughout the southeast where inventories, consultations, estate sales, expert witness testimony and appraisals are all required. 

Christina V. Whitson holds a B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary, and completed partial requirements toward a Master’s in Art Education at Queens College.  She has pursued graduate-level studies at UNC-Charlotte, and completed the Sotheby’s – London Works of Art Program. Whitson worked from 1983 through 1985 at C.G. Sloane Auction House in Washington, D.C., as a researcher, writer and art appraiser, and again from 1993 through 1994. From 1994 to 1998 she worked as an art consultant for FABREP, a North Carolina firm representing various artists, art publishers, art dealers and galleries. Whitson has a faux-painting firm and has worked with Laurance Triplette, Inc. on personal property appraisals since 1998.  Christina  is awaiting her designation in the American Society of Appraisers.

Sue Whitaker is an jewelry appraiser and consultant of gems and
jewelry. She is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America where she studied in Santa Monica, California and New York City. She is also a Certified Master Gemologist from the Accredited Gemological Association. She has studied under the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. She had  perfect scores for two International Events in the Gems and Gemology Challenge in 1996 and 1997. She has taught classes in community colleges on "How to buy a Diamond." Additional to her gem education she is a graduate from the Blair School for basic Goldsmithing.  Whitaker is an appraiser with the International Society of Appraisers and is a candidate for designation in the American Society of Appraisers.

We work with a consortium of other appraisers, specialists in their respective fields.