About Tiffany Chao
A specialist’s eye and an advisor’s discretion, in service of the collector.
Tiffany Chao is a recognized expert in Chinese and Asian art, bringing over sixteen years of specialized auction house experience to her independent practice. Having served in senior specialist roles at major international auction houses — including Sotheby’s and Bonhams — her career is defined by the physical examination, cataloguing, and execution of hundreds of landmark sales and the valuation of thousands of rare objects.
Today, her practice provides USPAP-compliant appraisals for federal estate tax, insurance, charitable donation, equitable distribution, and capital gains planning. Uniquely positioned as both a technical specialist and a relationship-driven advisor, she works closely with private collectors, UHNW individuals, family offices, estate attorneys, and institutions across North America and Asia.
As a specialist in Chinese works of art, her areas of expertise encompass Chinese ceramics, imperial works of art, bronzes, jade, and classical and modern paintings, as well as Asian export art — complemented by advisory services in high-value alternative assets and Trading Card Games (TCGs).
- Years of auction house experience
- 16+Years of auction house experience
- Landmark sales catalogued & executed
- 100sLandmark sales catalogued & executed
- Rare objects valued & examined
- 1000sRare objects valued & examined
Appraisal & advisory, tailored to fiduciaries and collectors.
By integrating traditional connoisseurship with tailored risk management and marketability analysis, each assessment enables collectors and fiduciaries to identify, mitigate, and manage the risks that could impact the value, protection, or transferability of a collection.
Valuation Purposes
- Federal estate tax
- Insurance coverage
- Charitable donation
- Equitable distribution
- Capital gains planning
Formal Appraisal Reports
USPAP-compliant valuations tailored to private holdings and institutional collections, in full compliance with local and international regulatory standards.
Collection Management
Comprehensive stewardship spanning provenance research, conservation oversight, and long-term care of fine art and tangible assets.
Insurance & Risk Strategy
Risk mitigation and marketability analysis that identify and manage legal, financial, or condition risks affecting value and transferability.
Cross-Border Placement
A seamless bridge for international clients navigating acquisition, divestment, private treaty sales, and auction placements.
Areas of Expertise
Covered by Tiffany Chao Art Advisory & Appraisal.
- Chinese ceramics & works of art
- Classical & modern painting
- Jade, bronze & scholar’s objects
- Japanese & Korean art
- Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian art
Continuing professional education.
Ongoing coursework with the profession’s leading bodies keeps every methodology current, defensible, and USPAP-compliant.
American Society of Appraisers
- Development of a Personal Property Appraisal: Research and Analysis (PP202)
- Personal Property Appraisal Report Writing Update (PP445)
- Introduction to Personal Property Valuation (PP201)
Appraisers Association of America
- Theory and Methodology
- Appraisal Writing Workshop
Forensic Expert Witness Association
- Expert Witness Testimony, Sessions 1 & 2
- Creating, Updating & Maintaining Your Curriculum Vitae
Credentials & standards.
Appraisers Association of America
Certified Member in Chinese Fine Art — the highest level of peer-reviewed credentialing in the appraisal profession.
USPAP Compliant
Strict adherence to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice across every engagement.
Bilingual — English & Mandarin
Fluent in speaking, reading, and writing, enabling firsthand research and close reading of inscriptions, seals, and provenance.
Combining deep market intelligence with robust risk strategy to safeguard fine art and tangible assets across generations.
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