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 Baker
Founder
Carrie D. Baker
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 16 years of 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 the 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: Accredited Member Appraisers Association of America, Chicago Estate Planning Counsel, Member, Friends of the Uffizi Gallery, School of Art Institute Chicago Philanthropic Advisory Group, PRMA (Private Risk Management Association)
Shelli Galati Beermann
Specialist, Fine Art
Accredited Member, American Society of Appraisers
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.
Virginia salem
Specialist, Jewelry
Member, National Arts Club
Chair, Culinary Arts Committee, National Arts Club
Virginia Salem has spent over 30 years in the jewelry business. After graduating from the Gemological Institute of America, she began as a cataloger at Skinner Auctioneers in Boston. There, she was introduced to all types of jewelry and began to develop an eye for rare-colored gems, such as Kashmir sapphires and Burma rubies, as well as estate jewelry.
After five years in Boston, she moved to New York City, where she worked at Phillips Auctioneers. There, she was able to work with larger value items, such as important diamonds. She also traveled throughout the United States and Central and South America to procure jewelry.
After a brief stint as a dealer, Bonhams Auctioneers invited her to launch their new jewelry department in New York City. As Head of Jewelry, Virginia worked closely with a team from California to London, often traveling to Hong Kong and Geneva to appraise and promote the jewelry sales. (Fun fact – at Bonhams, she sold a jewelry collection belonging to Lauren Bacall!) After Bonhams, Virginia worked at Freeman’s in Philadelphia, where she was able to bring to auction many important collections from Main Line families.
Now independently employed as Virginia Salem Vintage, LLC, Virginia is conducting jewelry appraisals of collections large and small. She is also a veteran appraiser for PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, having performed appraisals over 27 seasons. She has been seen in over 40 appraisals on WBGH.
Charles Barnes
Specialist, Antiques, Decorative Arts, Silver
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.
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.
Vernon Abrams
Specialist, Antiques and Decorative Arts
Accredited Member, International Society of Appraisers
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.
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.
GREGORY C. BROWN, m.s.; is a am
Specialist, Asian Art
Accredited Member, The International Society of Appraisers
Greg’s background and education is impressive. He has over 20 years of experience and exposure to the world of Asian Art and Antiquities. Greg holds an M.S. in Mongolian History from Chinggis Khaan University, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. In addition, he holds a B.A. in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota and attended graduate school for Geology and Paleontology at the University of Minnesota. Greg was the former owner of Asian Elegance, a direct importing company and gallery of Asian art and antiques. Through his work, he has developed a worldwide network of experts in which to collaborate.
Greg is a globetrotter who has engaged with art and artifacts from around the world. His travels have included spending time with curators, indigenous peoples, and spiritual elders of societies that have maintained direct connections with their ancient symbolic and cultural roots. For this reason, he is very good at differentiating authentic items from reproductions and fakes. His work has included authenticating a Ming dynasty sculpture worth nearly 90 times what the client thought it would be! He has been a part of dozens of seminars and on speaking panels throughout his career, sharing his vast knowledge and plethora of first-hand experiences.
Mr. Brown is a member of The Explorers Club, a world-renowned professional non-profit exploration organization whose members include such famous names as Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, Sir Edmund Hillary and more. Greg is also a long time member of the American Center for Mongolian Studies and a former member of the Asian Arts Curatorial Counsel, Minneapolis Museum of Arts.
DR. MATTHEW HILL
Specialist, Musical Instruments
Member, International Society of Appraisers
Organologist Dr. Matthew Hill has specialized in musical instruments for over 20 years. His experience includes musical instrument museum curation, research, photography, cataloging, film music composition, and work as a Nashville session musician.
A member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA), Hill studies and appraises musical instruments of all types and from all time periods, with a specialization in celebrity-associated instruments. His clients have included Nacho Baños, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rostov Kremlin Museum, S.S. Prokofiev Museum, National Music Museum, and Rickenbacker International Corporation, among others. Hill has presented across the globe at International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Committee for Museums and Collections of Instruments and Music (CIMCIM) conferences, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, Yale University, and more.
His organizational affiliations include Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI), Galpin Society (UK), International Committee on Museums, (ICOM) Subcommittee on Music Museums (CIMCIM), Musicians Union (UK), Society of American Archivists, and served as Governor of the American Musical Instrument Society.
He earned his Ph.D. in organology from the University of Edinburgh. Hill serves as Gretsch Curator for the Georgia Southern University Museum in Statesboro, Georgia.
CARRIE HALEY MA, ISA AM
Specialist, Asian / Tribal Art
Carrie earned her MA in Pacific and Asian Art History from the University of Hawaii and her BA of Fine Art at Seattle University. Post education, Carrie moved to Santa Fe New Mexico and became the gallery manager for a world-renowned tribal art gallery and later a private tribal and asian collections manager for several distinguished collector, whose collections now reside in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Peabody Museum in Cambridge. In 2019 Carrie joined the International Society of Appraisers and as an accredited member, she has been an active appraiser in her field ever since.
Carrie’s areas of expertise include all cultural arts from Africa, Oceania (Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia), and American Indigenous art. Furthermore, Carrie specializes in tribal and classical Asian art from all parts of Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where she has extensively traveled. Indigenous art from the Philippines, Taiwan (Atayal, Rukai and Paiwan), Japan (Ainu), and some items of Chinese origin are also within her knowledge base.
Prior to becoming an appraiser, Carrie was the collections manager at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe New Mexico where she became conversant with contemporary Hispanic art, antique Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and South American art, as well as artwork from Lapland (Sami people) of northern Scandinavia.
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.