Wooster Art Advisory
Independent Expertise
& Advocacy
About
At Wooster Art Advisory, we guide estates, families, and their advisors through the sale of fine art, objects, and jewelry from a single important work to an entire collection. We oversee every stage of the process so our clients achieve the strongest possible result with the least possible burden. We have no affiliation with any auction house, dealer, or appraiser. We represent our clients exclusively, ensuring that every recommendation is objective, independent, and guided solely by their best interests.
Wooster Art Advisory is led by Virginia Tobeason, who brings more than 30 years of experience in the art world. She began her career at Sotheby’s in London and New York before serving as Director of James Graham & Sons, one of New York’s longstanding American art galleries. She later established an independent art advisory practice, providing expertise in acquisitions, sales, appraisals, collection management, and the disposition of fine art. Virginia brings deep art-market knowledge and an independent, client-focused perspective to families, trustees, attorneys, and fiduciaries navigating the complexities of art within estates and private collections.
Services
Estate & Trust Art Advisory - Strategic guidance for executors, trustees, attorneys, fiduciaries, and families managing fine art and collections.
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Collection Assessment — Review of a collection to identify significant works, establish priorities, and determine appropriate next steps.
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Appraisals & Valuations — Coordination of qualified appraisals for estate tax, insurance, charitable donation, equitable distribution, and sale purposes.
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Art Market & Sale Strategy — Independent advice on whether, when, where, and how to sell, including evaluation of auction houses, galleries, dealers, and private-sale opportunities.
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Auction House & Dealer Representation — Solicitation and comparison of proposals, estimates, commissions, terms, and sale strategies on the client’s behalf.
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Estate Inventory & Documentation — Cataloguing and organization of artwork, including artist, title, medium, dimensions, provenance, location, condition, and supporting documentation.
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Equitable Distribution — Assistance with valuing and dividing collections among heirs, including options for retaining, selling, or distributing individual works.
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Shipping, Storage & Logistics — Coordination with professional art handlers, shippers, storage facilities, conservators, and other specialists.
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Charitable Giving & Museum Placement — Guidance on potential gifts and donations and coordination with museums, institutions, foundations, and qualified appraisal professionals.
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Professional Coordination — A single point of contact among attorneys, trustees, accountants, insurers, appraisers, auction houses, dealers, conservators, and family members.