Catherine Baron is an Art Historian and Appraiser of Art and Antiques. She owns and operates an appraisal and estate sale business, Catherine’s Estates and Appraisals, that serves the Southern Arizona community. A seasoned appraiser, she has also been a curator and advisor to museums across the country. Catherine is also an auctioneer and has served at benefit and antique auction events. Her intent is to familiarize the public about art and antiques to help them in the buying, selling, or appraisal processes.
Catherine has been actively appraising antiques and personal property since 1995 for museums and private clients. A native of Tucson, Catherine has lived all over the country and abroad. Catherine earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Kansas and received a Master of Arts degree in Art History at the University of Memphis. She was the Curator and manager of the Historic Properties Division for the Memphis Museum System for seven years. It was during that time that she began doing appraisals of antiques, art, and personal property for the museum and private clients. She returned to Tucson in 2001 to serve as the Collection Manager for the Arizona Historical Society. She has been published as a writer on art, antiques, and ancient coinage in selected museum and art publications and has served as an editor for other author’s works. In 2004 she founded Baron Ventures, Inc., which does business as Catherine’s Estates & Appraisals to assist clients in appraisals, estate sales, and personal property liquidation. She has appeared as an expert appraiser on the PBS Public Television program Antiques Roadshow.
Catherine has completed appraisal course work in Ethics, Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, and Personal Property Valuation, as well as electives on advanced appraisal report writing. She is on the board of the Friends of Western Art Association and has served on the board of directors for the Southern Arizona Better Business Bureau. Catherine is a past president of the Women’s Studies Advisory Council of the University of Arizona. She was appointed Aide-de-Camp for the state of Tennessee by Senator Curtis Person, and is a recipient of many Community Service awards. She has enjoyed working with special events for the Tucson Museum of Art, the DeGrazia Foundation, and the Tucson International Airport Authority.
Catherine is at home in Tucson, Arizona. She enjoys travel, writing, antiques, art, laughter ... and above all the fine art of good conversation.
References from Clients and Peers may be provided upon request.
Credentials
Master of Art Degree, Art History
2001 University of Memphis (Memphis, TN).
Department of Communications and Fine Arts: Honor student. Published thesis on Classical Art History Analysis of the Roman goddess Venus. Elective topics in Appraisal methods.
BS/BA Biology: Honor student. 1980
University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS).
Appraisal Experience
2004 - Present - Baron Ventures, Inc., DBA Catherine’s Estates & Appraisals and Baron Ventures Auctioneering (Tucson, AZ). Appraisal Consultant with museums, and cultural attractions Appraisal services for accessions, donations, insurance, (DeGrazia Foundation, Tucson Museum of Art). Appraisal consultant to estate liquidators, insurance companies, attorneys, trusts, Tucson Police Department, Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
2006- 2010- Appraiser Expert appearing on PBS Antiques Road Show Production
2002 – DeGrazia Gallery, Chief Curator, appraisal work for clients, insurance, accessions.
2001- Arizona Historical Society, (Tucson, AZ).
Collections Manager. Appraisal work for accessions, insurance.
1995-2001 - Memphis Museum System, Historic Properties Division (Memphis, TN)
Curator/Manager of Historic Properties. Appraise artifacts in permanent collection for insurance/travel needs.
Designations, Awards, and Association Memberships
2017 – Continuing Education, Christie’s Education, London, Chinese Art Appraisal Course
2016 – 2022 – Board of Directors, Friends of Western Art
2014 - 2017 – Board of Directors, Southern Arizona Better Business Bureau
2014 – 2016 Member, Tucson Chamber of Commerce
2011 -2014 – Secretary, Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers
2014 – Featured writer, Tucson Happenings, Articles on Antiques
2011 – Event Moderator, Panel of Rare Book Appraisers, Tucson Festival of Books, U of A.
2010 – Featured Appraiser, Antiques Roadshow Behind the Scenes, by Marsha Bemko, Boston.
2007-17 – Member of Better Business Bureau, A+ designation.
2007- Graduate of World Wide College of Auctioneering, Denver Colorado.
2003-present - American Society of Appraisers, member ID 61632.
· Completion of Ethics and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal requirements.
· Completion of Personal Property Valuation
- Research and Analysis
- Report Writing.
2000 -2001- Elected to the History Council Commission for the City of Germantown, TN.
1995-2000 – Member of the American Association of Museums, committee member of Small Museum Administrators, 1997-2000.
1999- Memphis Heritage Special Achievement Award for Great Expectations, The Preservation and restoration of the Mallory-Neely House. December, 1998.
1998 - First Tennessee BRAVO! Award for Max: 98, University of Memphis Art Museum, Memphis TN.