For solicitors, executors and advisers

Most instruments come to auction because of a change in someone’s life. Those are also the moments when your clients need a reliable figure quickly, and someone they can trust to explain it.

• Estates and probate. Identification, a free first opinion, and formal written probate valuations. More on probate valuations.
• Divorce and separation. An independent figure both sides can rely on, and an open auction if a sale is ordered. More on divorce valuations.
• Financial difficulty. A quick, realistic view of what an instrument would fetch, so your client knows their options. We hold at least ten specialist sales a year.
• Insurance. Formal written valuations for insurers and brokers. More on insurance valuations.

Violins, violas, cellos and bows are easy to miss and hard to value. To most eyes they all look alike, yet one might be worth £50 and the next £500,000. The label inside is rarely a reliable guide: most violins labelled “Stradivarius” are later copies, and some very good instruments carry no label at all. A general valuer will often play safe. We handle stringed instruments every day.

Probate, divorce and financial-difficulty enquiries are looked after by one person from start to finish: Sarah Buchanan, a Director of Amati. Sarah’s experience includes working as Personal Assistant to the Chairman of Christie’s, and she now runs Amati’s day-to-day operations, including our single-owner collection sales. She will look after your client, keep you informed, and arrange any specialist visits or written valuations.

Email Sarah directly at [email protected], or call 020 7099 7114.

1. Send your client to our booking page, or call us on 020 7099 7114. If we have given your firm its own booking link, please use that one.
2. We see them at our London office, at their home anywhere in the UK, or from photographs.
3. We give a plain answer on what the instrument is and what it is worth, even when the answer is “not much”.
4. If a formal written valuation is needed, we quote the fee first.

We are happy to give your private client, family or claims team a short talk on what to look for in an estate, what not to throw away, and how auction value differs from insurance value. Email [email protected] to arrange one.