News and Updates

Appraisal Scribe on the Road: Conferences in Washington D.C. and Houston, Texas

Set up and ready to demo!

I just returned from the action packed International Society of Appraisers Assets 2025 conference in Washington D.C. where I had the pleasure of showcasing our product and connecting with old friends and new. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth for a demo or just to say hello.

New friends taking a break from the ISA reception

The conference featured a mix of engaging panels on the art and collectibles market and the appraisal profession, along with a keynote speech on the application of AI tools in appraisals. And there were plenty of fun outings to the many D.C. area museums like the Hirshhorn Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian.

Wooded path

A standout moment of the conference for me was the fundraiser for the ISA Foundation held at the stunning Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden, once the residence of Marjorie Merriweather Post. I enjoyed wandering through the serene wooded areas with budding trees and discovering a Japanese-style garden featuring cherry trees in bloom, and a babbling brook. In a month or two, the formal rose gardens will be in full bloom.

Short video of Japanese garden

While the grounds were stunning, the interior of the Georgian-style mansion, adorned in 18th-century French decor, was even more breathtaking. Each room was filled with her remarkable collection of Russian imperial art, featuring Fabergé eggs, French eighteenth-century porcelains and furniture, Dutch paintings, and Chinese jades. ISA appraiser Amelia Xinran Zhu provided us with a fascinating, impromptu lecture on the various types of jade in the collection, highlighting a beautiful, translucent nephrite cup in the shape of a budding flower with a phoenix handle.

Intricately carved nephrite jade goblet with phoenix handle

We're getting ready for another appraisal conference next week (April 23-25th)—the ASA Personal Property Symposium at the historic Hotel ZaZa in Houston's museum district. If you're attending, stop by our booth for a demo or to ask questions. We will be there April 24-25th all day! Book a Demo in advance to avoid the crush at breaks!