I just completed a fine art claim evaluation from Chubb. I was hired to look over an estate in the Los Angeles area to determine smoke damage to fine art, sculpture, frames, decorated and gilt surfaces and murals that resulted from brush fires 2 years ago, 40 miles away.

1. Smoke Damage… from 40 miles away?!
I just completed a fine art claim evaluation from Chubb. I was hired to look
over an estate in the Los Angeles area to determine smoke damage to fine art,
sculpture, frames, decorated and gilt surfaces and murals that resulted from
brush fires 2 years ago, 40 miles away.
In the entry, there were 5 vaulted ceilings similar to this one, except the crown moldings were gold
Obviously, there is probably more dust from the last two years than there are
deposits from smoke. It might have been possible to analyze the “dust” with
sophisticated analytical means to determine the difference between dust and
smoke but that option would have cost $1,000′s and was rejected.
In the end, there are actually two questions: 1. Are there smoke deposits and 2.
Do they cause damage? Since the analysis option was rejected, the presence of
deposits from smoke was impossible for me to see with the naked eye. So, that
question is unanswerable. So, my visit was to confirm or reject the claim of
damage as a result of smoke deposits.
I carefully went through 10 pages of itemized objects that were represented in the

2. $500,000.00 claim for repairs. The client accompanied me through the property
explaining what he saw as the damages and concerns. He showed me gilt finishes
that he thought had altered in color because of exposure to the smoke.
It is my opinion that the “alterations” that the client points out are actually
diverse colors of original finishes that perhaps he no longer remembers or was
aware of… but is now noticing. The gold decorated surfaces including
architectural moldings, door frames, hanging light surrounds etc do not appear to
me to be damaged because they were coated with a protective “varnish” when
they were originally made. So, the smoke would have never touched the surface of
the gilding (which was actually paint in most of the areas!). Close inspection and
testing of the acrylic surface protective varnish was done on the columns in the
entry hallway (which are included on the claim). Then, the characteristics of this
protective finish were compared to and identified on all other gold surfaces I
could personally inspect and it is assumed that the decorative finisher/artist’s
technique was the same on all gilt surfaces (that were high and out of the way
which I could not inspect close up).
The only place this gold finish is damaged/oxidized/altered is on the
banister of the grand staircase which is due to constant rubbing and
exposure to oils and deposits from hands, not from the exposure to
smoke. The protective acrylic coatings on the “gold” through out the
house show no evidence of debris/deposits of smoke.
So, after my careful inspection, of all the individual items/objects
(paintings, frames, etc) and finishes my opinion in my report is that
there is no alteration of varnish finishes on artwork. The claimed alterations on
frames finishes appear to be indistinguishable. And the varnish coatings on the
gold protected them from any damage.
In this case, the result of my visit was good for Chubb. .. it could save them
having to pay out the $500,000.00 claim. But then again, I inspected a single
painting once for Chubb that was a claim for just shy of $1/2 million and they
paid out even though they didn’t have to because they wanted to keep the client
who had a massive collection, boats and other toys, houses etc all insured with
them. So, in the end, what motivates the business of how an insurance company
settles a claim?
Well, all that is not really my problem. I’m an advocate for the artwork. I tell “it”
straight regardless of who is paying my billing. That makes me a credible expert
witness and legal testimony.

3. Decorative moldings were through out the house… painted in gold, not gilt.
Questions? Call Scott M. Haskins (faclartdoc@gmail.com)
805 564 3438
Art appraisal questions? Call Richard Holgate (jrholgate@yahoo.com) 805 895
5121
For other articles on insurance fine art claims matters go to
http://insurancepersonalpropertyassessments.com/
For our art conservation blog and a video tour of our lab, go to
http://www.fineartconservationlab.com
(See testimonials)
Subscribe now to our YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/bestartdoc?feature=mhee
(See testimonials)