Veritas is Latin for truth. When I founded Veritas, I wanted truth and transparency to be at the core of every client experience. This simple philosophy is what has made Veritas one of the premiere art appraisal & consultation firms in the US.
The art world is a fascinating combination of the past, the present, and the future. While this eclectic blend gives it a unique position in the business world, it can also create a sense of obscurity for even the most seasoned collector. We strive to dispel any obscurity through clarity in our business practices. As art experts, we will always retain a healthy curiosity and respect for the object; but as art professionals, our priority will always be the clients. My Father’s love of history and my Mother’s creative talents fostered my passion for Art History. Here at Veritas, we look forward to maximizing our passions and knowledge to the fullest extent while maintaining the integrity of our core philosophy – truth. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you.
Sincerely,
Carrie Laverick
Founder
Carrie D. Laverick
President and Founder
Accredited Member, Appraisers Association of America
Specialist: Paintings, Prints, Drawings, Sculpture
cbaker@veritasartappraisals.com
Carrie is an active appraiser and consultant of fine art with over twelve years experience in the field. Carrie holds a B.A. in Art History from the University of Tennessee, and a Masters Degree in Art History from the University of South Florida. Carrie’s area of specialization is Old Master Paintings with a concentration in Italian Renaissance art. Carrie attended the Center for Academic Programs Abroad in Florence, Italy, studying the arts and architecture of Renaissance Italy and Italian Language. Carrie is an accredited member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA). Prior to founding Veritas, Carrie has held positions with the Harris Bank Corporate Art Collection in Chicago IL, the Old Master Painting Department at the St. Petersburg, FL Museum of Fine Arts, and Curatorial Department Assistant at the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL. In addition to her interest in Italian Renaissance Art, Carrie also has a passion for working with clients involving the restitution of Nazi-looted art. For more information, see the services tab on this website. Carrie is semi-fluent in Italian.
Affiliations: International Foundation for Art Research, Member Art Table (Leadership Organization for Professional Women in the Arts) Appraisers Association of America, Accredited Member Appraisers Association of America, Membership Committee Chicago Estate Planning Counsel, Member Friends of the Uffizi Gallery, Member School of Art Institute Chicago Philanthropic Advisory Group, Board Member
Rachel Christophe Baker
Senior Appraiser, Consultant
Specialist: Paintings, Prints, Drawings, Sculpture
Rachel is a native of Versailles, France who holds degrees in Art History and Business Administration. Her expertise also includes art appraising. She holds a Certificate of Appraisal Studies and Connoisseurship in Fine and Decorative Arts from Northwestern University successfully completing the four American Society of Appraisers’ Personal Property Valuation Courses during 2007-2008. She has held curatorial and management positions in museums and various cultural institutions including the D’Arcy Museum of Art, Loyola’s museum of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque art, the Terra Museum of American Art, and the Hektoen Institute of Medicine where she has created and implemented an arts in healthcare program. She also designs and leads cultural tours in France and teaches French at the Alliance Francaise of Chicago. Rachel is bilingual in French and English and has working knowledge of Spanish and German.
Elisabeth Douglas
Specialist, Asian Art
Accredited Senior Member, American Society of Appraisers
Certified Appraiser Personal Property, International Society of Appraisers
Elisabeth has over 30 years of experience in the specialization of Asian Art. She is an Accredited Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers and a Certified Appraiser of Personal Property with the International Society of Appraisers. Elisabeth is owner and President of The China Coast and Asian Art and Antiques Gallery. She received her J.D. from the University of Vienna. She has working knowledge of German, French and Mandarin Chinese.
Alan C. Aimone
Specialist: Archives, Books, Historical Photographs, Manuscript & Maps
Accredited Senior Appraiser, American Society of Appraisers
Alan is one of the most respected and knowledgeable appraisers in his field. He received his M.A. in Library Science from Dominican University, River Forest, IL. Alan is an appraiser of books and archival materials, retired librarian, and historian. He began his professional training in 1966 with Ralph G. Newman, books and manuscript appraiser and owner of the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago, IL. After receiving his Masters of Arts in Library Science in 1969, he was recruited to be the Military Book Specialist at West Point (United States Military Academy Library) where he held numerous positions including that of Chief of the Special Collections.
Mr. Aimone has served as president of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers and currently as vice president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers. In addition, he has presented at appraisal conferences and published articles related to book and manuscript appraisals.
Dr. Robin (S.D.) Sinclair
Specialist: 18th-19th century decorative arts, including porcelain, metal, glass, furniture, silver, iron, brass, pewter, tribal art, walking sticks, clothing, furs, maritime, ivories, paintings, prints, primitives, bronzes, general contents
Member, The Silver Society of London
Member, The International Society of Appraisers
Robin has over 20 years’ experience. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences from Vanderbilt University, Certificate in Fine Arts from Vanderbilt University Grad School, and a PhD from Duke University. She gives seminars on antique silver and has aided a small museum in assessing its decorative arts collection. During her three years of living in Europe, she appraised and sold antiques and art. The author of a seminar on collecting and evaluating antique silver, she has also written for The Association of Collectors of Small Silver and has done several television appearances on appraising art and decorative objects.
Charles Barnes
Accredited Member, American Society of Appraisers
Charles has over 40 years of experience in appraising antiques and decorative arts. Charles is an expert in many different areas of collecting such as furniture, American & European art glass, lamps, silver, porcelain, and more. In 2007-2008 Charles completed his Certificate in Appraisal Studies in Antiques & Fine and Decorative Arts in partnership with the American Society of Appraisers at Northwestern University. Charles has been the owner and founder of Barnes Antiques and Appraisals since 1979. From 2006-2008 Charles was the Writer, Producer and Director of a program called “Antiques” on Milwaukee Public Television.
Shelli Galati Beermann
Specialist: Fine Art
Shelli received a B.A. in Finance and Marketing with a minor in Art History from the University of Miami and a Masters of Art with a Distinction from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, NYC. She is an accredited member of the American Society of Appraisers. Shelli spent approximately four years with AON Corporation as an Account Executive for AON’s Global Fine Arts Practice. She also worked with Spalding Nix Fine Art in Atlanta as an Associate Appraiser and Gallery Manager. Shelli currently is the lead Business Manager for Sally King Benedict, a successful contemporary artist who lives in Atlanta but is active nationwide. In addition, Shelli is also President of her own art advisory firm, Beermann Art Advisory.
Sheryl G. Wood
Specialist: Generalist Appraiser Fine & Decorative Arts, Law & Business
Sheryl is a legal and business professional as well as a fine and decorative arts appraiser. Sheryl holds a J.D. from Stetson University, a B.A. in accounting from Florida Atlantic University, and hold certificates of Art Business and Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts from NYU. After practicing law in the government sector for over 20 years, she turned her attention to law in the context of art business and fine art appraisal practice. While not a litigator, she teamed up with one, and in a recent case was able to restitute to the artist’s family a bronze sculpture from the 1940’s that was donated in the 1950’s, stole in 1970 and did not reappear until 2012. She has been a member of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County for 20 years, a former Board Member of the Morikami Museum, a Board Member of the New School of the Visual Arts in Jupiter, FL and a former Chair of the Cultural Activities Committee for the Palm Beach County Bar Association.
Vernon Abrams
Specialist: Antiques and Decorative Arts
Vernon is a seasoned and educated appraiser with over 40 years of experience in the field. Vernon is an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers and President of the Atlanta Chapter of the Appraisers Association of Georgia. Vernon studied at the University of Maryland and at Sorbonne, University of Paris. He has lived all over the world and has worked in the field of antiques and decorative arts since 1966. His impressive background includes acting as an antiques consultant and columnist for the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle Magazine, appraiser for WPBA Antiques in Atlanta 2004 and 2005 season and Instructor on Antique Furniture at Perimeter College.
Charles Laverick
Specialist: Rare Wines
Charles has over 20 years experience at all levels of the wine trade. As an internationally recognized wine critic, his wine reviews have appeared in Tastings, the Journal (a bi-monthly publication he founded and published) and Tastings.com, in addition to a monthly column in Restaurant Hospitality magazine –the largest professional restaurant magazine in the U.S., Epicurious.com –the website of Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines, Wineaccess.com, and Best Wines , a Print Project book. He has written extensively, and in addition to the above outlets, these writings have appeared in Wine Enthusiasts magazine, All About Beer magazine, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera (the “New York Times” of Italy), and the Food & Drink Network on AOL to name a few. He was also the North American correspondent for imported wines on the MSN network.
In 1999 he wrote and edited six books on wine, beer, and spirits that are still available internationally from Sterling Publishers in New York. They include: The Beverage Testing Institute’s Guide to the Wines of North America; The Beverage Testing Institute’s Guide to Imported Wines: The Berage Testing Institute’s Guide to Inexpensive Wines; and The Beverage Testing Institute’s Ultimate Guide to Wine. Previously, he has contributed to and edited both The Wine Navigator and The Beer Navigator, published by Simon and Shuster.
Wayne Driskill
Specialist: Antique Weapons and Firearms
National Rifle Association – Benefactor Life Member
Texas State Rifle Association – Benefactor Life Member
Houston Gun Collectors Association – Life Member
Remington Society of America – Life Member
Ohio Gun Collectors Association – Life Member
Colorado Gun Collectors Association – Life Member
Colt Collectors Association – Member
Texas Gun Collectors Association – Member
National Shooting Sports Foundation – Member
Wayne Driskill is a leading authority in the miniature arms field, having been involved in the business of selling full functional, handmade miniature firearms, guns, weapons, and related accessories for over 25 years. Wayne participates in antique gun and arms shows around the country and has made a name in the antiques weapons field. Wayne is the president of the Miniature Arms Collectors and Makers Society since 2009.