The appraisal is a precise and detailed analysis with which a text document correlated with photographic reproductions is elaborated, with the aim of providing all the elements necessary to guarantee the origin, age, authenticity and value of a work .

The appraisal with the appraisal of an asset is called appraisal appraisal, the one concerning the authenticity of a work of art is traditionally called expertise.

An expert opinion can be requested during a case or to clarify a dispute that has not yet resulted in legal action; other times it is useful from a technical point of view to accurately identify the current state of the asset.

An appraisal can also be requested in compliance with CITES regulations and those that regulate the circulation and export of cultural heritage.

Most of the time the appraisal is used to know the real value of an artifact: this is given by the comparison of the exchanges without however forgetting the uniqueness that inevitably characterizes every antique object.

In carrying out an appraisal, an artistic, historical, technical and possibly also scientific and archival analysis of the work is carried out. It will describe the artefact in detail so as to be able to settle the question (such as the estimate of an asset or a damage) and will determine the originality, authenticity and consequent value of the work itself.

The thesis is structured as follows:

Identification of the asset and its characteristics;
Creation of photographic documentation;
Study of the object and retrieval of supporting documentation;
Drafting of the paper;
Identification of the evaluation criterion;
Assessment;
Conclusion;
Simple, sworn or sworn appraisals are provided, the evaluation of which can be aimed at insurance or repurchase, estimation or realization purposes.

In the sworn appraisal, he validates the certainty of the contents “under his own personal responsibility”, certifying, with a further declaration affixed in the appraisal itself, the truthfulness and thus responding criminally for any ideological and material falsehoods contained therein.
On the other hand, there is a sworn (or sworn and sworn) appraisal when the same, in addition to the declaration that certifies the truthfulness of the content, reports at the bottom the report of the oath of “having well and faithfully fulfilled the functions entrusted to it for the sole purpose of know the truth”, made by the expert before the clerk of any judicial office, including that of the justice of the peace, pursuant to art. 5 of Legislative Decree 9 October 1922, no. 1366, or before a notary, pursuant to art. 1, no. 4, of the royal decree law 14 July 1937, no. 1666.
The simple appraisal is one that is neither sworn nor sworn.