Happy Fall!

Finally, time to start cooling down after those hot summer days! We have had a busy summer transitioning our team and working together. As such, our summer newsletter fell behind, but we’re excited to share an early fall newsletter filled with market updates, new features, and practical tips.

As summer has come to an end (sadly), it’s a great time to start tying up loose ends before we get overwhelmed with the busy holiday season in fall and winter. Here are some things to consider as they relate to your collections:

• Insurance: Review policy renewal dates and consider the last time your collection was appraised. Updated values help avoid gaps in coverage if replacement costs have changed.
• Estate Planning: Have you had discussions with beneficiaries about your collection? Are they aware of current values and associated responsibilities of ownership? Current appraisals simplify the division of assets, especially when multiple heirs are involved.
• Donation/Gift Planning: Looking for a tax deduction this year? Now is the time to consider making a donation of artwork to reduce your income tax for 2025. An up-to-date appraisal ensures accurate tax reporting and fair market values.

Rule of Thumb: Most insurance carriers recommend updating fine art and high-value contents appraisals every 3–5 years, or sooner in a fluctuating market.. 

As summer fades and routines settle back in, remember: protecting your collection is an ongoing process. We’re here to help you navigate it with expertise, care, and discretion.

We are grateful for your continued support and partnership. We are here to provide guidance and assistance as you make updates to your estate plan or insurance coverage, or if you just need an art-related resource. We have the tools and expertise to help. Contact us for guidance and referrals.

Warmly,

The Roth|Escher Art Group Team

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The Current State of the Art Market

It's a great time to buy art!

Auction houses and galleries are navigating a tough market. The sum of the top 15 lots sold at auction during the first six months of 2025 in every fine art category—from ultra-contemporary to Old Masters—fell between 36% and 60% from the same period in 2024, according to the Artnet Price Database. On the other hand, the market for artwork under $50,000 has been the most active at auction during the past year and a half. This indicates strong market activity for emerging artists.

If you want to see signs of growth, don't look up at the top; look further down the price scale. Auction sales of works under $5,000 grew 7% and dealers with turnover of less than $250,000 reported a 17% increase in sales. Results under $20,000, and especially those under $5,000, have reached record levels. 

So, what does this mean? It’s a buyer’s market. It is a great time to nurture relationships with dealers who are motivated to spend time with prospective clients, educate them on their artists, and even offer deals and discounts. In addition, it’s a great time to focus on supporting emerging and local artists.  

Wildfire Preparedness

California residents cannot ignore the danger of wildfires, so we always like to remind our community to be prepared.

✔️ Create a defensible space: clear brush, trim trees, maintain fire-safe landscaping

✔️ Seal vents and ducts to prevent ember intrusion

✔️ Review your insurance coverage annually with a broker who understands art risks

✔️ Annually trim tree branches at least 10 feet from roofs



Create an Emergency Plan that can include:

✔️ Elevate uninstalled artwork at least 6 inches above ground to protect from flood and leaks

✔️ Store wood piles away from structures

✔️ Regularly ensure that gutters are clear of leaves and debris

✔️ Identifying art resources, assign responsibilities and document your plan to ensure seamless response

✔️ Digital backups of home contents inventory, appraisals, and purchase invoices

✔️ Take photographic documentation of all spaces within the home (including closets) and any areas where precious valuable properties are stored

✔️ Assign priority levels to artwork for evacuation or triage

✔️ Create an emergency contact list that includes a conservator, insurance broker, art handler, storage facility, and appraiser

✔️ Keep crates or wrapping supplies ready for key pieces

Practical Tip of the Season

Protecting Your Collection in Late Summer Heat and Early Fall Humidity

Even as cooler weather approaches, late summer and early fall humidity and heat can damage artwork, textiles, and furniture. A few preventive steps now can save thousands in restoration costs later.

• Keep works on paper and textiles away from direct sunlight.

• Monitor indoor humidity, aim for 40–55%.

• If moving or storing items during a remodel, use climate-controlled storage.



• Avoid putting your art at risk with DIY projects, hire a trusted art handling firm to move, relocate, or install works.

For Attorneys & Wealth Managers:



We recently assisted in an estate where updated appraisals prevented disputes among heirs by providing clear, IRS-compliant valuations. Thorough documentation doesn’t just protect value—it protects relationships.

If you work with clients navigating estates, trusts, or divorce proceedings, consider appraisal updates as part of their planning process.

Opening night SECA Exhibition, 2024 @ SFMOMA

Firm Updates

For the second year in a row, we were an Exhibitor Sponsor at the Kasner Estate Planning Symposium. It was a terrific opportunity to showcase our services, reconnect with colleagues and referral partners, and listen to some first-rate educational presentations. 

Morgann Trumbull Projects

Pop-Up Gallery

Morgann had her second Morgann Trumbull Projects (MTP) pop-up gallery in San Jose! The pop-up includes two shows, the first, Ancestral Resonance, a four-person exhibition exploring ancestral histories and futures, will be paired with Flat File Show, an extensive collection of contemporary works on paper by artists from the Bay Area and beyond. These shows will be on view from Friday, September 5 to Saturday, October 11. The second round of exhibitions will be on view from Friday, October 17 to Saturday, November 22 at 445 S. First St., in San Jose.



Our Team’s Recommendations:

Podcasts:

Morgann recommends: The Specialist - presented by Sotheby’s global specialists as your guides, exploring the significance and journey of an extraordinary artwork.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-specialist/id1719955804

Books:

Liza H. recommends: The Curse of Pietro Houdini by Derek B. Miller.

A thrilling, and moving World War II art-heist-adventure tale where enemies become heroes, allies become villains, and a child learns what it means to become an adult.

Andrea recommends: The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

One of the most remarkable true-crime narratives of the twenty-first the story of the world’s most prolific art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser.

Morgann recommends: Daybook, the Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt

The diary of the well-known sculptor, begun by Truitt with the determination to come to terms with the artist in herself, dramatically documents the links between her daily life and her work.

Fall Exhibitions Not to Miss

Photo © sfmoma.org

Suzanne Jackson: What is Love?

SFMOMA: Sep. 27 - March 1

For over six decades, Suzanne Jackson has created lyrical, awe-inspiring paintings influenced by her deep respect for the natural world and continual belief in the connection between all living things. Jackson’s life has been driven by a search for creative freedom and a bohemian spirit indebted to the San Francisco ethos of the 1950s and 1960s

Arts of Indigenous America

de Young: Aug 26-Aug 31, 2028

The exhibit features works by contemporary artists who each explore different aspects of the theme "Relationship to Place." The works span over a thousand years of history, using all sorts of different media types. This exhibition challenges what Native art is.

Arts of Indigenous America Gallery

Photo © famsf.org

Edouard Manet, The Balcony, 1868–1869

Photo © famsf.org

Manet & Morisot



Legion of Honor: Oct 11-March 1



This exhibition explores the relationship between Manet, the Impressionist era's greatest painter, and Morisot, the only woman to produce art under her own name during this time. Their story is told through Manet's portraits of Morisot and Morisot's work, which often reflected elements of Manet's. The installation celebrates the friendship between these two great artists.

Photo © lacma.org

Grounded

LACMA: Sept 14-June 21

The Grounded exhibition encourages viewers to see land beyond what is presented to them, as a foundation for memory and home. Spanning from the 1970s to today, the exhibition showcases 35 artists based in the Americas and the Pacific.

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