Our Appraisers

As a fine art appraiser with over 10 years of experience, I noticed a consistent gap in the market for clients who are in the exploratory stage of discovering what their objects could be worth. I didn’t feel clients should have to pay a premium for formal appraisal services during this stage of discovery. Filling this gap was my primary motivation for founding What’s it Worth. We have assembled a team of carefully vetted experts who can confidently identify your objects with the ultimate goal of determining “What’s it Worth?” We pledge to put you, the client, first and we hope that you have fun with the process!

Carrie D. Laverick Founder, What’s It Worth Appraisals

Meet some of our selected experts.

What’s it Worth boasts best in class specialists with extensive experience in their related field of expertise. A team of highly qualified experts at your fingertips. Our unrivaled expertise is at the heart of What’s it Worth. We take the guesswork out of Where do I go? Whom do I ask? We are here for you! For more detailed information on our experts please contact us at inquiries@whatsitworthartappraisals.com.

Carrie Gough

Fine Art Specialist & Founder of What’s it Worth Paintings, Prints, Drawings, Sculpture

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 (CAPA) in Florence, Italy, studying the arts and architecture of Renaissance Italy as well as Italian Language. Carrie is a certified 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.

Carrie is semi-fluent and has reading knowledge of Italian.

Rachel Baker

Fine Art Specialist Paintings, Prints, Drawings, and 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.

Dr. Robin (S.D.) Sinclair

Antiques, Decorative Arts and Antique Weapons / Guns Specialist 18th-19th century decorative arts, porcelain, metal, glass, furniture, silver, iron, brass, pewter, tribal art, walking sticks, clothing, furs, maritime, ivories, paintings, prints, primitives, bronzes, general contents, antique weapons & guns

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.

Noel Givens

Fine Art Specialist Paintings, Prints, Drawings and Sculpture

Noel holds a Masters Degree in Art History and Art Administration with a minor in German. He has been an independent curator for museums, private collectors and corporations for over 15 years. His role includes maintaining extensive fine art market knowledge as he actively assists clients in purchasing artwork for their collections. His focus is on modern and contemporary art but he has experience in dealing with all periods. He is also an independent appraiser and has been for over 10 years.

Lisa Allen

Antiques & Decorative Arts Specialist 20th century decorative arts, European furniture, silver, porcelain, pottery

Lisa has over 29 years of experience in the antiques trade. She has a Master of Arts degree from Auburn University. Lisa is the proprietor of her own antiques dealership and has lectured extensively in her field, most notably on pottery of the US. She frequently consults museums on important acquisitions and regularly appraises items relevant to her specialty.

Elisabeth Douglas

Specialist, Asian Art

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.

Harry Stern

Specialist, Rare Books, Maps, Manuscripts, Papers / Archives

Mr. Stern has been a specialist and appraiser of rare books, manuscripts and antique maps since 1965. Mr. Stern studied classical languages at Yale University, modern languages at the Interpreters School in Geneva, Switzerland, and American History at the University of Chicago. He also worked at the Pentagon as a translator for the United States Government. Mr. Stern has appraised rare books and manuscripts for universities, private collectors, insurance companies, estates, and attorneys in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, an exclusive national organization which is the arbiter of professional standards in the antiquarian book trade. ABAA firms are particularly qualified to provide valuations for estate, tax, or insurance purposes.

Laura Duguid

Mid-Century Modern Furniture and Vintage Costume Jewelry

Laura has nearly a decade of experience in identifying and valuing MCM furniture and vintage decorative arts. With a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Iowa and a professional background in journalism and creative problem solving, Laura is uniquely skilled at successfully sleuthing the story of an item. Her appreciation for the sculptural nature of MCM furniture and design fuels her drive. Laura is an accomplished e-commerce resale shop owner and presently serves as a lead appraiser for a Naperville resale shop.

Wayne Driskill

Antique Firearms and Weapons

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 antique weapons field. In addition to being the president of the Miniature Arms Collectors and Makers Society since 2009, he also is a member of the following organizations:

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