Appraisers Association of America Presents First Belmont Award to Helaine Fendelman

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Inaugural Belmont Society Award was presented to Helaine Fendelman on November 9, 2013 at the Appraisers Association of America's National Conference held at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. 

Awarded to Fendelman in recognition of her significant contributions to the Appraisers Association of America over the course of 25 years.  The derivation of the name of the Award comes from the Belmont Plaza Hotel, where the Association met monthly from December 1959 - 1969.

We are proud to honor one of our long time members, a former board member and president, a teacher, a mentor to many, and most recently the editor in chief for Appraising Art: The Definitive Guide to Appraising Fine and Decorative Arts, a publication of the Appraisers Association of America.

Helaine Fendelman has more than 30 years of experience in arts and antiques.  In 1975 she began her career in the arts as a curator at the American Folk Art Museum.  From 1978 to 1981, Fendelman was a curator at the Rye Historical Society in Rye, New York.

In 1994, Fendelman created Helaine Fendelman & Associates, a Fine Arts, antiques, and appraisal firm, which is located in the in the Gramercy Park section of New York City. Fendelman is also an instructor at New York University's Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts. She has two sons and lives in New York City and Sanibel Island, Florida.

Since 1997, Fendelman has co-hosted the Public Broadcasting System television show, "Treasures in your Attic" and co-authored the Scripps Howard Syndicated newspaper column, of the same name.  Fendelman served as a board member of the Appraisers Association of America from 1984 to 2008, as Vice President from 1994 to 1996 and as President from 1996 to 1998.

She has also authored and co-authored several books about appraising including: Price it Yourself, Treasures In Your Attic; Tramp Art: A Folk Art Phenomenon; Silent Companions: Dummy Board Figures of the 17th Through 19th Centuries, and The Official Identification and Price Guides to American Folk Art and Holiday Collectibles.  Fendelman is also a contributing editor for Hearst's Country Living Magazine with her monthly column, "What is it? What is it Worth?"

Established in 1949, the Appraisers Association of America is the premier association for appraisers of the fine and decorative arts.  Our members work with individuals, private and corporate art collections, attorneys, accountants, educational institutions, trusts, brokers and insurance carriers to deliver independent, ethical and objective valuations for insurance, estate tax, charitable donation, equitable distribution, and liquidation purposes.  Our certified and accredited members are required to be in compliance with the professional standards known as USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice) issued by The Appraisal Foundation, a congressional authorized nonprofit to set the standards for all appraisers.  

For further information: Linda Selvin, Executive Director, Appraisers Association of America, 212-889-5404, ext. 12 or via email at [email protected].

SOURCE Appraisers Association of America