Caroline Taylor: Valuing Fine Art and NFTs - [Making Markets, EP.10]

Caroline Taylor: Valuing Fine Art and NFTs - [Making Markets, EP.10]

Author: Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts December 29, 2023 Duration: 44:06

My guest this week is Caroline Taylor. An art valuation expert, Caroline founded the Appraisal Bureau to bring data and analytics to the highly subjective world of art appraisals. We start the conversation with Caroline’s backstory before talking about the appraisal process for both fine art and NFTs and the problem that the Appraisal Bureau is solving in this space. We also cover several unique aspects of the art market, such as Block Trading, Irrevocable Bids, the place of NFTs in the Art world, and more. Please enjoy this conversation with Caroline Taylor.


For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

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Show Notes:

(00:02:00) - (First question) - Why Deutsche Bank has an art collection

(00:02:54) - Caroline’s background in art 

(00:03:57) - A basic overview of the curation of art for a corporate collection

(00:04:32) - The balance between investing in value or genuine interest in the pieces

(00:06:00) - Caroline’s moves after the corporate art curation for Deutsche bank

(00:08:15) - How advisory fees are structured in the buying process

(00:10:47) - Appraiser ratings and determining their proficiency in valuing unique items

(00:14:26) - Other valuation methods beyond insurance

(00:17:32) - The complexities of irrevocable bids at an auction

(00:19:10) - Profits from using low irrevocable bids and the long-term valuation of acquiring art through auctions

(00:20:13) - Other unconventional bidding methods beyond room-based and irrevocable bids 

(00:21:15) - A background of Dmitri Cherniak's 'The Goose' NFT, which sold at Sotheby's Auction for $6.2M

(00:23:36) - The breakdown of the audience at Sotheby’s auction for The Goose

(00:25:10) - Caroline’s journey to becoming the sole approved appraiser of NFTs in the insurance market

(00:28:36) - The nuanced valuation of CryptoPunks from an art appraisal perspective

(00:30:57) - How she initiated Appraisal Bureau to address the lack of neutrality in the market

(00:35:18) - Caroline’s validation process, especially when significant discrepancies arise

(00:35:37) - Navigating customer segmentation within Caroline’s clientele

(00:37:37) - The potential impact of artificial intelligence

(00:40:44) - How Appraisal Bureau conducts thousands of appraisals yearly without being able to disclose what they’re working on and who they’re working with 

(00:41:32) - NFTs impact on bringing new people into the art world, Eric attending Art Basel

(00:42:12) - NFTs permeating the traditional art world with positioning in places like MoMA

(00:43:10) - Caroline’s opinion on the NFT market transitioning from a tough phase into a hopeful outlook

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Eric Golden hosts Making Markets, a podcast that digs into the often unseen mechanics and human behaviors driving how value is assigned and traded. Rather than just analyzing charts or headlines, conversations focus on the underlying architecture-the rules, relationships, and psychology-that defines how any marketplace functions. This approach means that one episode might dissect the familiar terrain of bonds or equities, while the next ventures into the specialized worlds of fine art, cryptocurrency, or even vineyard acquisitions. The common thread is a curiosity about the actual transactions and the people who facilitate them, providing a tangible sense of what occurs when assets change hands. By speaking with practitioners and experts each week, the show demystifies the complex systems that form the backbone of global commerce, offering listeners a clearer picture of economic forces at work. As part of the Colossus network of investing and business podcasts, Making Markets builds a comprehensive library of knowledge, turning abstract concepts into accessible narratives. It’s for anyone who has ever wondered about the real-world machinery operating behind the curtain of daily financial news.
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