Meet Courtney Ahlstrom Christy

APPRAISER OF Fine Art, RARE BOOKS, Archives & MATERIAL CULTURE

Courtney believes that every object has a story to tell. Her passion for material culture combined with a trained eye greatly contributes to her investigation of value. She has worked with museums, universities, galleries, and auction houses — all of which have provided unique opportunities to closely examine works ranging from the antique to the contemporary.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in art history from University College Cork in Ireland, Courtney studied 20th century design at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. She then obtained a master’s degree in the history of decorative arts at Smithsonian Associates / Corcoran College of Art & Design in Washington, D.C. Courtney also held a fellowship at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History while completing graduate school.

Courtney has served as Senior Appraiser at Heritage Auctions, America’s largest auction house. In addition, she has worked with Bonhams headquartered in London and The Potomack Company based in Alexandria, Virginia. Courtney's interest in offering valuation services tailored to each client’s needs led to establishing her own firm that provides qualified appraisals and consultations.

As a Certified Member of the International Society of Appraisers, an Accredited Member of the Appraisers Association of America, and in compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), Courtney is involved in a professional community that seeks higher standards and ongoing inquiry into how to best evaluate personal property.

Education

SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES / Corcoran College of Art, Washington D.C.

Masters in the History of Decorative Arts

University College Cork, cork city, Ireland

Bachelors of Arts, with an Art History major and Spanish minor

Sotheby's Institute of Art, London

Concentration in 20th Century Design

SELECT Courses / Workshops

International Society of Appraisers

Methodology: Core Course in Appraisal Studies, Personal Property 15-Hour USPAP Course, Personal Property 7-Hour USPAP Update Courses, Appraising in the World of High Net Worth Individuals

Connoisseurship: Japanese Prints, Asian Ceramics, Appraising Pablo Picasso Part I & II, Appraising Antiquities Today, Chinese Export Silver, Understanding Historic Frames, Introduction to Appraising Rugs, Identifying Black & White Photography

New York UNIVERSITY

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Appraising

Appraisers Association of America

Methodology: Appraisal Theory and Methodology, Elements of a Correctly Prepared Appraisal, Damage & Loss: Who & What You Need to Know, Art Insurance Methodology, Matrimonial Appraisals, Appraising Partial Loss in Fine & Decorative Arts, Principles of Celebrity Value, SEAK Expert Witness Training

Connoisseurship: History of Jade, Appraising Maps, Sèvres Porcelain, Pennsylvania Impressionists, Lalique Glass, Current Silver Market, Using Costume and Jewelry to Date Fine and Decorative Arts, Mid-Century Design, Travel Posters

Rare book school, university of Virginia

Certificate of Proficiency: Developing Collections, Reference Sources for Researching Rare Books, Introduction to Archives, Book in the West to 1800, American Publishers' Bookbindings, 1800 - 1900, Introduction to Bibliographical Research Methods for the Hand-Press Period

Winterthur museum Institute

Intensive Two-Week Study of American Decorative Arts 

Whitehall Antiques

Seminars: Prints and Paintings, Wood Identification, Silver Basics, Appraising Clocks, American Country Furniture, Georgian Furniture, Japanese Decorative Arts: 1800 to Present, Valuing and Authenticating Furniture 1740-1840, Modernism in American Furniture 1880-1980 

Antiquarian book Seminars

Intensive Study of the Antiquarian Book Trade

museum of early southern decorative arts

Summer Scholar Series on Southern Decorative Arts

University of Salamanca, Spain

Spanish Study Abroad Program, High Honors

ATLANTA COLLEGE OF ART

Art Studio Summer Courses, Focus on Painting and Drawing

Classical American homes preservation trust

Seminar on Fakes, Forgeries, and Reproductions  

EXPERIENCE

Ahlstrom appraisals llc

Personal Property Appraiser and Arts Consultant (Based in Atlanta, serving clients nationwide)

WORTHWHILE MAGAZINE

Co-Founder, Co-Editor and Contributor (Online)

Heritage Auctions

Senior Personal Property Appraiser (Dallas)

Great Gatsby's AUCtion gallery

Fine & Decorative Arts Specialist (Atlanta)

Bonhams & Butterfields

Assistant to Southeast Regional Director (Atlanta) 

THE POTOMACK COMPANY

Junior Decorative Arts Specialist and Catalogue Photographer (Alexandria)

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Fellowship as Curator's Aide (Washington, D.C.) 

The HIstoric New Orleans Collection

Classical Institute of the South Summer Fellowship, now known as Decorative Arts of the Gulf South Fellowship (New Orleans)

FLORIDA GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Aide to Curator (Tallahassee)

AFFILIATIONS

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF APPRAISERS

Certified Member & Private Client Services Affiliate, Concentration in Antiques, Furnishings & Decorative Arts

APPRAISERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Accredited Member, Specialization in Rare & Antiquarian Printed Books

Accredited Member, Specialization in 20th Century Design

Foundation for Appraisal Education

Former Vice President 

GEORGIA APPRAISERS ASSOCIATION

Founding Member 

Bibliographical Society of America

Member 

Society of American Archivists

Member 

Ephemera Society of America

Member 

The Manuscript Society

Member 

The Decorative Arts Trust

Member 

American History Printing Association

Member