Dr. Elizabeth Stewart, Ph.D., AAA Certified
USPAP compliant through:
01/19/2026
Specialization(s)
American Furniture and Decorative Arts; Continental Decorations & Early European Works of Art; Generalist; Impressionist & Modern Art
Member Type
Certified Member
Service(s)
Charitable Donation; Estate Tax Liability; Equitable Distribution; Insurance
Appraiser's Statement
I serve Santa Barbara and the central coast of California from mansions to bungalows; I have been active in the field for over 30 years. My practice includes trust and estate appraisals, market value appraisals for sales purposes, charitable contribution appraisals, and I am an expert in insurance appraisals, having acted as expert witness in fire loss mediation for three fires in Santa Barbara, the Woolsey fire (Malibu), the Camp fire (Paradise) and the Dixie fire. I am well versed in all manner of household contents, fine collectibles, and fine art, and am experienced with great furniture of all ages-- and pianos. My PhD dissertation (2015) focused on the basis of VALUE; titled The Material Image: Why Collectors Collect. I teach Decorative Art. I consult on auction sales and divesting for top dollar. I enjoy jobs of all sizes, from the appraisal of the contents of the Old Mission Santa Barbara, to three appraisals for scholarly archives and major collections for the Cal State University system. I do home visits locally and remote appraisals nationwide. I have authored three books on appraising for the layperson: Collect/Value/Divest: the Savvy Appraiser (Indie Award Winner); and, No Thanks Mom: the Top Ten Objects Your Grown Kids Do Not Want; and, The Ten Top Mistakes my Clients Made in a Disaster. I host a radio show the "Art and Antiques Radio," as well as write an "Ask the Appraiser" column for the News Press. I write regularly for appraisers' professional journals. Successful completion of course and examination achieved for the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), and ongoing further education in the field of valuation.