UNITED STATES TAX COURT

38

cT

T.C. Memo. 2017-40

UNITED STATES TAX COURT

ESTATE OF EVA FRANZEN KOLLSMAN, DECEASED,

JEFFREY HYLAND, EXECUTOR, Petitioner v.

COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Docket No. 26077-09.

Filed February 22, 2017.

Kim E. Baptiste and Michael E. Swartz, for petitioner.

Jane J. Kim and Robert A. Baxer, for respondent.

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

GALE, Judge: Respondent determined a $781,488 deficiency in the Federal

estate tax of the Estate of Eva Franzen Kollsman (estate).¹ The deficiency arises

¹Unless otherwise noted, all section references are to the Internal Revenue

Code of 1986, as amended and in effect for the date of decedent's death, and all

(continued...)

SERVED Feb 22 2017

-2[*2] principally from respondent's determination that the estate underreported the

values of two paintings held by decedent at her death on August 31, 2005

(valuation date). After concessions,2 the sole issue for decision is the fair market

values of the paintings on the valuation date. The parties have each introduced

expert reports and testimony to support their respective positions.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and, together with the exhibits

attached thereto, are incorporated herein by this reference.

I.

Background

Eva Franzen Kollsman (decedent), a resident of New York, died testate on

August 31, 2005. Her estate was administered in New York. Her will designated

Jeffrey Hyland as the executor of her estate and the distributee of its residual.3

Mr. Hyland resided in California at the time the petition was filed.

¹(...continued)

Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure. All dollar

amounts have been rounded to the nearest dollar.

2A portion of the deficiency is attributable to respondent's determination that

the estate failed to report taxable gifts made by decedent Eva Franzen Kollsman for

taxable years 2002, 2003, and 2004. The estate has conceded this adjustment.

3Decedent's will provided for the distribution of the residuary estate to

Mr. Hyland after the satisfaction of various bequests and the payment of debts,

expenses, and "Death Taxes", defined to include Federal and State estate taxes.

-3[*3] II.

A.

The paintings

Description

The estate's assets included two 17th-century Old Master4 paintings:

(1) Village Kermesse, Dance Around the Maypole (Maypole) by Pieter Brueghel

the Younger (Pieter Brueghel), measuring approximately 21-1/2 by 29-7/8 inches,

and (2) Orpheus Charming the Animals (Orpheus) by Jan Brueghel the Elder or

Jan Brueghel the Younger or a Brueghel studio,5 measuring approximately 19 by

27 inches. Both are oil paintings on wood panels. Maypole depicts the revelry of a

village festival: Some villagers dance around a maypole as others engage in

similarly spirited pursuits. Orpheus depicts the musician of Greek mythology by

that name playing a lyre, surrounded by an assortment of paired animals in a

sylvan setting. Mr. Hyland inherited Maypole and Orpheus from decedent's estate.

B.

The estate's expert's experience with the paintings

The estate's expert, George Wachter, vice president of Sotheby's North

America and South America and cochairman of Sotheby's Old Master Paintings

4The term "Old Master" refers to "a superior artist or craftsman of

established reputation", especially "a distinguished painter of the 16th, 17th, or

early 18th century". Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1571

(Unabridged) (2002).

5The parties' experts dispute whether Orpheus is properly attributed to Jan

Brueghel the Elder or Jan Brueghel the Younger, an issue discussed infra pp. 3538.

-4[*4] Worldwide, first saw the paintings at issue in 1981 during a visit to decedent's

residence. He visited her residence on several subsequent occasions over the years

and saw the paintings each time.

Around the date of decedent's death, in a letter dated August 31, 2005,

Mr. Wachter wrote to Mr. Hyland outlining proposed terms under which Sotheby's

would handle the auctioning of Maypole and Orpheus. He stated that the

"preliminary estimates" of the sale prices the paintings would bring at Sotheby's

January 2006 auction in New York City were $600,000 to $800,000 for Maypole

and $100,000 to $150,000 for Orpheus.

C.

Mr. Wachter's fair market value letter and proposed consignment

rights agreement

A few weeks later a Sotheby's employee sent a letter to Mr. Hyland dated

September 28, 2005, enclosing two documents prepared by Mr. Wachter and

signed on his behalf, both dated September 23, 2005. The first took the form of a

letter from Mr. Wachter to Mr. Hyland in which he stated that the fair market

values of Maypole and Orpheus, "based on firsthand inspection of the property"

(and without further elaboration), were $500,000 and $100,000, respectively. This

letter was subsequently attached to the estate's estate tax return.

The second document was a letter agreement, sent by Mr. Wachter to

Mr. Hyland, providing terms under which Mr. Hyland would agree to give

-5[*5] Sotheby's exclusive rights to auction Maypole and Orpheus for five years

(consignment rights agreement). The consignment rights agreement stated:

In consideration of the work that we [Sotheby's] have done with you

and Mrs. Kollsman over the past years and also our help with the

donation process for the Circle of Cranach altarpiece,M this letter

certifies that you [Mr. Hyland] agree that, if you should decide during

the 5-year period beginning on the date this letter agreement is

mutually executed, to offer the two pictures listed below [Maypole

and Orpheus] for sale, you shall consign such property exclusively

and only to Sotheby's to be offered for sale at an auction to be

conducted by us.

The values of Maypole and Orpheus were described in the consignment rights

agreement as $600,000 to $800,000 and $100,000 to $150,000, respectively. At

some time between September 28 and October 24, 2005, Mr. Hyland signed the

agreement. During the period in which the agreement was proposed and executed,

Sotheby's imposed a buyer's premium that it collected and retained on any auction

6The estate's assets also included another Old Master painting, Circle of

Cranach, St. Mauritius, which under the terms of decedent's will was bequeathed

to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City provided that the museum

agreed to put it on permanent display under terms acceptable to the estate's

executor. In the event that the Metropolitan Museum did not agree to terms

acceptable to the executor, the painting was to be given to such other museum as

the executor chose in his discretion.

-6[*6] sale equal to 20% of the first $200,000 of the "hammer price"7 and 12% of

any excess amount.8

D.

Cleaning of the paintings

1.

Engagement

Approximately three to four weeks after decedent's death, Mr. Hyland

consulted with Brad Shar, vice president and general manager of Julius Lowy

Frame and Restoring Co. (Lowy), regarding work to be done to the paintings.

Lowy is (and was at all relevant periods) a preeminent fine art services firm

specializing in fine art restoration and framing, with a client list that has included

the auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's; museums such as the Metropolitan

Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum, all in

New York City, as well as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and

the Art Institute of Chicago; numerous art galleries in New York City; architects

and interior designers; and the private collections of David Rockefeller, Ralph

Lauren, Richard Manoogian, and Millicent Hearst.

7The "hammer price" is the winning bid at auction.

"The buyer's premium Sotheby's imposes on auctions sales has varied over

time. When, as discussed infra p. 11, Maypole sold at a Sotheby's auction in

January 2009, the buyer's premium was 25% of the first $50,000 of a bid price;

20% of any amount in excess of $50,000, up to and including $1 million; and 12%

of any amount in excess of $1 million.

-7[*7]

On September 27, 2005, Mr. Hyland emailed Mr. Shar, confirming that he

wished to have Lowy put new frames on Maypole and Orpheus. By that time, the

paintings had been moved from decedent's residence to Sotheby's; Mr. Hyland

asked Mr. Shar to examine them there. Mr. Hyland noted that one of the paintings

had a signature in the lower left-hand corner and the other had a slight bow along

the bottom and possibly the top as well.

On October 6, 2005, Lowy obtained a certificate of insurance from its

insurer, which Mr. Shar forwarded to Mr. Hyland that same day to demonstrate

that Lowy had insurance coverage for Maypole and Orpheus while it had custody

of them. The certificate indicated that Lowy had insurance with respect to any

damage that might occur to the paintings in transit to or from, or while on, Lowy's

premises. The coverage was effective from October 6, 2005, to February 10, 2006,

and insured Maypole for $1 million and Orpheus for $200,000. Mr. Hyland

determined the amounts for which Lowy was to insure Maypole and Orpheus.°

2.

Examination by Lowy personnel

After examining Maypole and Orpheus Mr. Shar concluded that they were

dirty and should be cleaned. He found the paintings to be covered with a heavy

9A property casualty insurance policy issued to decedent, for the period

December 11, 2005, to December 11, 2006, provided insurance coverage for her

residence and its contents, including the paintings at issue. The policy insured

Maypole for $600,000 and Orpheus for $80,000.

-8[*8] layer of dirt and grime that nonetheless "looked like it could be removed with

relative ease". The chief conservator at Lowy, Bill Santel, who performed an

initial examination of both paintings before they had been cleaned or any testing on

them had been done, likewise believed on the basis of that examination that

cleaning would be appropriate for both and "reasonably safe"--something he would

certainly have done if he owned them. In his judgment, Maypole appeared to have

been previously cleaned, though not recently. He considered Maypole "not the

dirtiest painting" he had seen in his work and "a pretty good painting to be

cleaned". Mr. Shar therefore suggested to Mr. Hyland that he have the paintings

cleaned before framing; Mr. Hyland agreed and engaged Lowy for that purpose.

3.

Lowy condition and treatment reports

a.

Maypole

Lowy prepared a "condition and treatment report" concerning Maypole. The

section of the report devoted to the painting's pretreatment condition (condition

report), dated November 28, 2005, states that Maypole had a surface coating of

"discolored natural resin" varnish. The condition report has an entry for degrees of

"Surface Dirt", with the options of "Light", "Apparent", or "Heavy". "Heavy" is

circled. The immediately following entry is for degrees of "Embedded Dirt", with

_9_

[*9] the same three options. None of the options is circled. Under the "Signature"

entry, the condition report notes that the signature was "[b]arely visible".

The condition report was based on a two-step process Lowy employs to

determine the condition of a painting: (1) a visual examination using various

forms of light and (2) a chemical detergent window test (window test) whereby

detergent is applied to a small section or sections of the painting's surface. The

visual examination is nonintrusive, using ultraviolet light, x rays, and an infrared

scope. It typically enables a conservator to detect damage within a painting or

previous restorations. The window test, performed only with the client's

permission, typically reveals further information about a painting's condition,

including how it will clean and whether any dirt is surface or embedded.

Maypole was cleaned on December 6, 2005. The section of the report

devoted to the painting's treatment (treatment report) states that the cleaning took

three hours. The treatment report further states that the Lowy conservator used

Wolbers and naphtha detergents to remove "a heavy layer of surface dirt-greasegrime-nicotine". The treatment report notes that the conservator "did not remove

vamish".

-10[*10]

b.

Orpheus

Lowy also prepared a condition report and a treatment report concerning

Orpheus. The condition report,¹° dated November 28, 2005, states that the surface

coating of Orpheus was "vamished" with a "natural" (as opposed to "synthetic")

varnish, with discoloration that was "apparent". The "Surface Dirt" entry has

"Heavy" circled, and the options for the degree of "Embedded Dirt" are unmarked.

The entry regarding "Signature" is filled out as "[n]one visible". The condition

report further states under "Surface Distortions" that the painting had a "convex

warp"; and elsewhere the report observes that the panel was "substantially bowed

at the top and bottom".

Orpheus was also cleaned on December 6, 2005. The treatment report states

that the cleaning took two hours. The treatment report further states that the Lowy

conservator used Wolbers and naphtha detergents to "remove a discolored heavy

dirt & grime layer (yellowed) only" and notes that the conservator "did not remove

varnish".

¹°As with the condition report prepared for Maypole, the condition report for

Orpheus was based on a visual inspection using various forms of light and a

window test.

- 11 [*11]

4.

Cost and shipping

The cleaning and framing of Maypole and Orpheus cost $4,500 and $4,350,

respectively. Both paintings were shipped to Mr. Hyland at his residence in

California on December 21, 2005.

E.

Post-valuation-date sale of Maypole and market data

Mr. Hyland ultimately consigned Maypole to Sotheby's pursuant to the

consignment rights agreement, and approximately 3-1/2 years after the valuation

date Maypole sold at Sotheby's January 2009 Old Masters auction in New York

for a hammer price of $2,100,000 against a presale estimate of $1,500,000 to

$2 million. The total purchase price, including the buyer's premium, was

$2,434,500. At the time of trial Orpheus remained in Mr. Hyland's possession.

As of the January 2009 Old Masters auction, the 10 highest sale totals for

Old Masters auctions achieved by Sotheby's or Christie's in New York City were

as follows:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Sotheby's January 2007: $108.1 million

Sotheby's January 2008: $82.5 million

Christie's January 2006: $74.5 million

Sotheby's January 2006: $67.8 million

Sotheby's January 2009: $63.9 million

Sotheby's January 1998: $53.2 million

Sotheby's January 1997: $47.7 million

Sotheby's January 2000: $47.5 million

Sotheby's January 2003: $47.1 million

Christie's January 2000: $39.3 million

- 12 [*12] Five of the top ten were achieved between the valuation date in August 2005

and the January 2009 Sotheby's auction at which Maypole was sold.

III.

Return position and deficiency determination

The estate timely filed a Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation

Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, reporting the fair market values (as of the valuation

date) of Maypole as $500,000 and Orpheus as $100,000. As noted, Mr. Wachter's

September 23, 2005, letter assigning those fair market values to the paintings was

attached to the return. Respondent thereafter issued the estate a notice of

deficiency determining the fair market values (as of the valuation date) of Maypole

as $1,750,000 and Orpheus as $300,000. The estate timely petitioned the Court for

redetermination. Subsequently, in an amended answer, respondent asserted that

the fair market values of Maypole and Orpheus were $2,100,000 and $500,000,

respectively, on the valuation date.

OPINION

I.

Valuation and the estate tax

Section 2001(a) imposes a Federal estate tax on the transfer of a decedent's

taxable estate. The taxable estate consists of the value of the gross estate after

applicable deductions. Sec. 2051. The value of a decedent's gross estate includes

the fair market value of the property owned by the decedent on the date of death.

- 13 [*13] Sec. 2031(a); sec. 20.2031-1(b), Estate Tax Regs. Fair market value for this

purpose is the price at which property would change hands between a willing buyer

and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both

having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. United States v. Cartwright, 411

U.S. 546, 551 (1973); sec. 20.2031-1(b), Estate Tax Regs.

The estate bears the burden of proving that the values respondent determined

in the statutory notice of deficiency are incorrect. See Rule 142(a); Welch v.

Helvering, 290 U.S. 111 (1933). Respondent bears the burden of proof with

respect to the increased values and the increased deficiency asserted in the

amended answer. Rule 142(a).

II.

Expert reports

As noted, the estate offered the expert report of George Wachter, vice

chairman of Sotheby's North America and South America and cochairman of

Sotheby's Old Master Paintings Worldwide," and respondent offered that of Paul

"Mr. Wachter has been a member of Sotheby's Old Master Paintings

department since 1973. He became a director of the Fine Arts Division of

Sotheby's in 1982 and then managing director in 1995. In 2000 Mr. Wachter was

appointed vice chairman of Sotheby's North America and South America and

cochairman of Sotheby's Old Master Paintings Worldwide, a position he held at

the time of trial.

- 14 [*14] Cardile, Ph.D., an art historian with more than 25 years of experience as a

fine art appraiser,¹² to support their respective positions on valuation.¹³

¹²Mr. Cardile holds a Ph.D. from Yale University. He has taught college and

graduate courses in art history at various institutions and served as museum

director of the Denison Art Gallery in Granville, Ohio, from 1978 to 1984.

Mr. Cardile is certified by the Appraisers Association of America and has

appraised art for museums, private individuals, and corporations for the past 30

years.

¹³The estate and respondent also attempt to support their respective valuation

positions by citing the insurance coverage on the paintings. The estate points to

the property casualty policy providing coverage for decedent's residence and its

contents, including Maypole and Orpheus specifically, at insured values of

$600,000 and $80,000, respectively. Respondent cites the insurance coverage that

Mr. Hyland required Lowy to demonstrate in connection with Lowy's custody of

the paintings; namely, $1 million for Maypole and $500,000 for Orpheus.

On this record we do not find the insurance values probative of fair market

value. Both experts opined that insured values are often higher than fair market

value. As for the policy covering the contents of decedent's residence, there is no

evidence that the coverage values for the paintings were supported by appraisals.

Moreover, the coverage period for the policy was December 11, 2005, to

December 11, 2006. The record demonstrates that the paintings were moved from

decedent's residence shortly after her death in August 2005 to Sotheby's and then

were moved to Lowy on or about October 6, 2005. They were shipped from Lowy

to Mr. Hyland's residence in California on December 21, 2005. There is no

evidence that the paintings were ever returned to decedent's residence.

Consequently, we conclude it is unlikely that Mr. Hyland scrutinized or relied

upon the coverage amounts for the paintings in this policy. They are therefore not

probative regarding the fair market values.

As for the coverage amounts that Mr. Hyland required for the Lowy policy,

there is no evidence that these values were based on any appraisal. While these

values might suggest that Mr. Hyland believed the paintings were worth more than

the fair market value estimates he had received from Mr. Wachter, we draw no

inference in that regard, given both experts' view that insurance coverage values

are often higher than fair market value. On balance, we likewise do not find the

(continued...)

- 15 [*15] A.

In general

Expert witness reports may assist the Court in understanding an area

requiring specialized training, knowledge, or judgment. Snyder v. Commissioner,

93 T.C. 529, 534 (1989). However, as the trier of fact, the Court is not bound to

accept an expert's opinions. Silverman v. Commissioner, 538 F.2d 927, 933 (2d

Cir. 1976), affg T.C. Memo. 1974-285; Chiu v. Commissioner, 84 T.C. 722, 734

(1985). We may be selective in deciding what part of an expert's report we will

accept. Helvering v. Nat'l Grocery Co., 304 U.S. 282, 295 (1938). The opinions

of expert witnesses are weighed according to their qualifications and other relevant

evidence. Anderson v. Commissioner, 250 F.2d 242, 249 (5th Cir. 1957), aff'g in

part, remanding in part T.C. Memo. 1956-178; Johnson v. Commissioner, 85 T.C.

469, 477 (1985). Opinion evidence that does not appear to be based upon

disclosed facts is of little or no value. Balaban & Katz Corp. v. Commissioner, 30

F.2d 807, 807-808 (7th Cir. 1929), affg 6 B.T.A. 610 (1927).

The purpose of expert testimony is to assist the trier of fact to understand

evidence that will determine the fact in issue. Laureys v. Commissioner, 92 T.C.

101, 127-129 (1989). An expert has a duty to the Court that exceeds his duty to his

client; the expert is obligated to present data, analysis, and opinion with detached

¹³(...continued)

coverage amounts in the Lowy policy probative of fair market value.

- 16 [*16] neutrality and without bias. Estate of Halas v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 570,

577-578 (1990). In the context of valuation cases, experts lose their usefulness

(and credibility) when they merely become advocates for the position argued by a

party. Laureys v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. at 129; Buffalo Tool & Die Mfg. Co. v.

Commissioner, 74 T.C. 441, 452 (1980).

B.

The estate's expert, Mr. Wachter

1.

Mr. Wachter's valuations

Mr. Wachter's report opined that the fair market values of Maypole and

Orpheus on the valuation date were $500,000 and $100,000, respectively--the same

fair market value estimates he gave in the September 23, 2005, letter to Mr. Hyland

that was attached to the estate tax return. His report states that in forming his

opinions he relied on his personal examination of the paintings and his years of

professional experience valuing and selling Old Master paintings. He also cited

photographs of the paintings provided to him by Lowy and his August 31 and

September 23, 2005, letters to Mr. Hyland as additional sources he consulted in

reaching his fair market value estimates.

Mr. Wachter's report states that his $500,000 valuation of Maypole was

based on multiple factors, but he made specific reference to the painting's

attribution to Pieter Brueghel and its "pleasant composition and subject matter."

- 17 [*17] However, the report asserts that on the valuation date the condition and

quality of Maypole were "very unclear" because the painting was covered with a

dense film of dirt and grime and had an extreme yellow discoloration. The report

observes that Maypole was among the dirtier paintings that Mr. Wachter had

observed in his 35-year career. In sum, the report's chief assertion is that

Maypole's condition on the valuation date was so poor that "there was no way to

have known for certain its inherent value". These factors, taken together, the

report opines, indicated a fair market value of $500,000.

Mr. Wachter argues that two factors explain the sizable gap between his

valuation and Maypole's January 2009 sale price of $2,434,500: (1) a "significant

improvement" in the quality and condition of the painting as a result of the Lowy

cleaning and (2) a substantial increase in market demand in the intervening period,

primarily driven by a "large influx of Russian buyers" seeking Old Master

paintings. As support for the second point he points to Sotheby's data showing

that 5 of the 10 highest sale totals for Old Masters auctions in New York City

occurred between the valuation date and January 2009.

With respect to Orpheus, Mr. Wachter's report identifies three points as

affecting the painting's $100,000 valuation. First, the report attributes the painting

to Jan Brueghel the Younger, whose works sell for significantly less than those of

- 18 [*18] Jan Brueghel the Elder, according to the report. Second, his report states that

Orpheus "does not have a strong composition, such that some of the animal figures

are barely visible and others appear disjointed from their surroundings." Finally,

the report observes that Orpheus, like Maypole, had accumulated a layer of surface

dirt and grime and had a severe yellow discoloration, making it one of the dirtier

paintings Mr. Wachter had examined in his career. The report does not make any

mention of Orpheus' being bowed or warped. As in the case of Maypole, the

report concludes that Orpheus' condition on the valuation date was so poor "that

there was no way to have known for certain its inherent value". These factors,

taken together, the report opines, indicated a fair market value of $100,000.

In his report and testimony Mr. Wachter placed significant emphasis on the

precleaning condition of the paintings, which he characterized as extremely dirty,

grimy, and discolored. He knew decedent and as noted visited her residence on

several occasions starting in 1981. He described decedent as a heavy smoker and

attributed the soiled condition of the paintings on the valuation date in part to years

of tobacco smoke exposure.

In addition, Mr. Wachter's report maintains that cleaning the paintings posed

a very substantial risk because the process might reveal hidden flaws beneath the

surface or otherwise damage them, compromising their values to such an extent

- 19 [*19] that they might have been left unmarketable. His report states that, because

of this risk, Sotheby's general practice is to avoid cleaning Old Master paintings

before selling them. His report further states that he generally does not advise

clients to clean Old Master paintings before placing them for sale. The implicit

premise in Mr. Wachter's fair market value estimates was that a willing buyer

would demand, and a willing seller would have to accept, a substantial discount off

the value each painting would have after a successful cleaning, to take into account

the risk of adverse effects from the cleaning process.

2.

Rejection of Mr. Wachter's valuations

We find Mr. Wachter's valuations unreliable and unpersuasive for several

reasons. First, he had a significant conflict of interest that could cause a reasonable

person to question his objectivity. Mr. Wachter first gave his fair market value

estimates for the paintings at the time of decedent's death (in amounts that

remained unchanged in his expert report prepared for trial). His correspondence

with Mr. Hyland during that period demonstrates that the two had previously

discussed the disposition of Maypole and Orpheus upon decedent's death and that

Mr. Hyland was considering selling the paintings. Mr. Wachter provided his fair

market value estimates at the same time he was soliciting Mr. Hyland for the

exclusive rights for five years to auction the paintings in the event they were

- 20 [*20] sold.¹4 Under Sotheby's terms at that time, an auction sale would have

entitled Sotheby's to a 20% commission on the first $200,000 of the hammer price

and 12% of the remainder.¹5 Thus, Mr. Wachter, on behalf of his firm, had a direct

financial incentive to curry favor with Mr. Hyland by providing fair market value

estimates that benefited his interests as the estate's residual beneficiary--that is to

say, "lowball" estimates that would lessen the Federal estate tax burden borne by

the estate. The fair market value estimate letter Mr. Wachter provided to Mr.

Hyland was in fact used by him as the basis for the values reported on the estate

tax return. The fact that Mr. Wachter simultaneously presented Mr. Hyland with

these fair market value estimates and his pitch for exclusive auction rights for

Sotheby's gives rise to an inference that the latter affected the former.

Second, on the basis of other substantial evidence in the record, we are

convinced that Mr. Wachter exaggerated the dirtiness of the paintings on the

valuation date and the risks involved in cleaning them. If cleaning the paintings

presented the magnitude of risk postulated by Mr. Wachter, we find it

¹#As noted in our findings, Mr. Hyland in fact entered into the proposed

exclusivity agreement with Sotheby's, and Maypole was successfully auctioned by

Sotheby's in January 2009.

¹sEven under Mr. Wachter's fair market value estimates for the paintings,

Sotheby's stood to gain $76,000 and $20,000 on any auction sale of Maypole and

Orpheus, respectively.

- 21 [*21] inconceivable that he would not have raised these concerns with Mr. Hyland

in the course of their discussions concerning auctioning the paintings. Yet Mr.

Wachter did not recall any such discussion.¹6 Instead, Mr. Hyland made the

decision to have the paintings cleaned because personnel at Lowy--a leading fine

arts conservator--recommended cleaning and did not believe it posed any

significant risk.

Bill Santel, chief conservator at Lowy who performed the initial examination

of the paintings, testified that when he first examined Maypole it was dirty,

appeared to have been cleaned previously but not recently, and was "a pretty good

painting to be cleaned". He testified that if he had owned it he would have cleaned

it, as doing so seemed "reasonably safe". Mr. Santel similarly stated that Orpheus

was dirty but not the dirtiest painting he had ever seen. Even Mr. Shar--the estate's

own witness--contradicted Mr. Wachter's assertions about the risk of cleaning the

paintings, testifying that although both paintings were quite dirty and discolored, it

appeared the dirt and grime could be removed easily, and he therefore

recommended to Mr. Hyland that he have the paintings cleaned. The condition

report for each painting, prepared after a window test, recorded that the dirt on

¹6Mr. Hyland was present at trial but did not testify.

- 22 [*22] each was "surface" rather than "embedded", an important distinction

according to Mr. Santel, because the former is generally much easier to clean.

The cleaning process itself corroborated the Lowy witnesses' precleaning

assessments. Mr. Santel and Mr. Shar both explained that only the mildest

detergents used for cleaning paintings, Wolbers and naphtha, were required to

clean Maypole and Orpheus. Mr. Shar testified that this was unusual and that

typically stronger detergents are required. The success of these mild detergents,

according to Mr. Santel, confirmed that the paintings were covered in surface dirt

only; he testified that if the dirt had been heavily embedded in the vamish or the

paint, the mild detergents "could not possibly have achieved the results that they

did." Mr. Santel further testified that the duration of the cleaning processes,

recorded in the Lowy treatment reports as three hours for Maypole and two hours

for Orpheus, indicated that these cleanings were comparatively easy and problem

free. There is no dispute that the paintings' cleanings were unqualified successes.¹7

On balance, the Lowy condition and treatment reports and the testimony of the

Lowy personnel who also examined the paintings in their precleaning condition

convince us that Mr. Wachter exaggerated both the dirtiness of the paintings and

the risks inherent in cleaning them.

¹7Mr. Wachter characterized Maypole's postcleaning appearance as

"fabulous" and a "winner".

- 23 [*23] Third, Mr. Wachter's analysis and conclusions regarding the risks of

cleaning the paintings are contrary to the well-established principle that the

hypothetical willing buyer and seller are presumed to have "reasonable knowledge

of relevant facts" affecting the value of property at issue. Sec. 20.2031-1(b), Estate

Tax Regs. This presumption applies even if the relevant facts at issue were

unknown to the actual owner of the property. United States v. Simmons, 346 F.2d

213, 217-218 (5th Cir. 1965). Moreover, both parties are presumed to have made a

reasonable investigation of the relevant facts. R Thus, in addition to facts that are

publicly available, reasonable knowledge includes those facts that a reasonable

buyer or seller would uncover during the course of negotiations over the purchase

price of the property. See Bergquist v. Commissioner, 131 T.C. 8, 19 (2008)

(concluding that on the valuation date a corporation was no longer a going concern

as "a reasonably informed and willing buyer or seller" would have been aware of

imminent changes likely to cause operations to cease).

We believe that given the dirty condition of the paintings on the valuation

date, a reasonable investigation into their values would involve at the very least

seeking an opinion from a conservator about the risks and likely outcome of having

them cleaned. See Simmons, 346 F.2d at 217-218 (finding that a "sufficient

examination" of decedent's records in existence on the date of death would have

- 24 [*24] revealed certain evidence establishing the value of a tax refund claim

because such evidence "was always there to be found").

Moreover, a hypothetical willing buyer is presumed to be "reasonably

informed" and "prudent" and to have asked the hypothetical willing seller for

information that is not publicly available. See Estate of Gallagher v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-148 (determining that the use of financial data

not publicly available on the valuation date to value a company was appropriate

because a willing buyer could have inquired and elicited the nonpublic information

from the company); Dise v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1986-87 (holding that a

discount should apply to the value of commercial real estate where the parcel

suffered from a water shortage problem that was not generally known but was

"readily discoverable" to "a reasonably informed buyer"); Estate of Tully v. United

States, 41 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 78-1477 (Ct. Cl. 1978) (finding that the value of

corporation stock on the valuation date should reflect that company officials were

engaged in illegal activities that were not revealed to the public until four years

later but nonetheless were evidenced by "red flags" that "would have been obvious

to a prudent purchaser and prompted further inquiry").

Two witnesses from the same leading conservator--one called by the estate,

the other by respondent--who each examined the paintings in their condition near

- 25 [*25] the valuation date and before cleaning, both judged cleaning to be a welladvised and low-risk undertaking. This information was readily discoverable.¹ª

The hypothetical willing buyer and seller are chargeable with knowledge of it. We

conclude that the effective discount urged by Mr. Wachter, on the premise that the

risks posed by cleaning were substantial, is contrary to the presumption of section

20.2031-1(b), Estate Tax Regs., that the willing buyer and seller have reasonable

knowledge of relevant facts.

Fourth, even if we accepted Mr. Wachter's contentions regarding the risks of

cleaning the paintings (which we do not), he has provided no comparables to

support his valuations.¹° This omission is remarkable. We have repeatedly found

sale prices for comparable works quite important to determining the value of art.

¹ªWe emphasize in this regard that both witnesses from Lowy judged

cleaning to be advisable on the basis of their initial inspections of the paintings

before any window tests were performed. We do not believe that the results of

window tests would constitute reasonable knowledge of relevant facts because the

window tests were invasive and the hypothetical willing seller would not

necessarily have agreed to them.

¹°At trial the estate also proffered an expert report by Clarissa Post,

Sotheby's vice president of Old Master paintings. Ms. Post's report used

comparables. She was not available to testify and be cross-examined, however,

and respondent accordingly objected to the admission of the report. The estate

thereupon withdrew it. The report was in any event inadmissible in view of the

author's being unavailable for cross-examination. See Van der Aa Inys., Inc. v.

Commissioner, 125 T.C. 1, 6-7 (2005); Pack v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 198065.

- 26 [*26] See, e.g., Estate of Smith v. Commissioner, 57 T.C. 650, 659 (1972), aff'd on

another issue, 510 F.2d 479 (2d Cir. 1975); Mathias v. Commissioner, 50 T.C. 994

(1968); Estate of Mitchell v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2011-94, 101 T.C.M.

(CCH) 1435, 1442-1444 (2011); Doherty v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1992-98,

63 T.C.M. (CCH) 2112, 2115 (1992), afCd, 16 F.3d 338 (9th Cir. 1994); Farber v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1974-155, 33 T.C.M. (CCH) 673, 675 (1974), afCd

without published opinion, 535 F.2d 1241 (2d Cir. 1975). In the absence of

comparables, Mr. Wachter's report lacks any objective support for his valuation

figures; he effectively urges the Court to accept them on the basis of his experience

and expertise. We have no basis for doing so. See Frates v. Commissioner, T.C.

Memo. 1987-79, 53 T.C.M. (CCH) 96, 99 (1987) (rejecting expert's art valuations

for lack of evidence of comparable sales); Reynolds v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo.

1981-714, 43 T.C.M. (CCH) 115, 116 (1981) ("Petitioners' expert has the more

impressive credentials but essentially asks the Court to accept his conclusions

without offering an adequate explanation as to how these conclusions can be

reached."); Stone v. United States, 99 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2007-2992 (N.D. Cal.

2007) (rejecting a Sotheby's appraisal lacking a description of how the valuations

were reached), supplemented by 100 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2007-5512 (N.D. Cal.

- 27 [*27] 2007), gfCd, Stone ex rel. Stone Tr. Agreement v. United States, 103

A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 2009-1379 (9th Cir. 2009).

Finally, there is the issue of Maypole's sale in January 2009. In general, a

valuation of property for Federal tax purposes is made as of the valuation date

without regard to any event happening after that date. See Ithaca Tr. Co. v. United

States, 279 U.S. 151 (1929). Post-valuation-date events, however, are not

necessarily irrelevant to a determination of fair market value as of the valuation

date. The general rule against consideration of post-valuation date events is a rule

of relevance. See First Nat'l Bank of Kenosha v. United States, 763 F.2d 891, 894

(7th Cir. 1985); Estate of Jung v. Commissioner, 101 T.C. 412, 431-432 (1993).

Thus in some cases the subsequent sale price of a painting can be probative

evidence of its fair market value on the valuation date, assuming intervening

market conditions are taken into account. See Estate of Newberger v.

Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2015-246, at *6.

Mr. Wachter attempts to account for the nearly fivefold increase in value

between his $500,000 valuation in September 2005 and Maypole's $2,434,500 sale

price in January 2009 by arguing that (1) the Lowy cleaning vastly improved the

painting's condition and (2) there was a significant surge in the market demand for

Old Master paintings after 2005.

- 28 [*28] We have rejected Mr. Wachter's claims regarding Maypole's preeleaning

condition as exaggerated. As for his claims regarding market demand, the estate

introduced aggregate auction sales results demonstrating that 5 of the 10 highest

sale totals for Old Masters auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's occurred after 2005

and included the January 2009 Sotheby's Old Masters auction. However, because

these are only gross sales figures, they do not demonstrate the extent of

appreciation in individual paintings, as the sales figures may reflect a larger

volume of paintings sold rather than an increase in sale prices. Consequently, the

aggregate sales volume figures fall considerably short of persuading us that either

Brueghel paintings, or Old Master paintings generally, experienced a nearly

fivefold increase in value between August 2005 and January 2009. Yet an

appreciation rate of this magnitude would be necessary to reconcile Mr. Wachter's

$500,000 valuation of Maypole with its sale at auction less than 3-1/2 years later

for approximately $2,400,000. For this reason, we find that the January 2009

auction price casts doubt on Mr. Wachter's valuation. The lack of post-2005

market data in the record precludes any more definitive finding from Maypole's

January 2009 sale price.

- 29 [*29] For the foregoing reasons, we give very little weight to Mr. Wachter's report

and testimony regarding the fair market values of the Brueghel paintings on the

valuation date.

C.

Respondent's expert Mr. Cardile

1.

Respondent's burden of proof

We turn to a consideration of whether respondent has met his burden of

showing that the paintings' fair market values were equal to the amounts asserted

in his amended answer; namely, $2,100,000 for Maypole and $500,000 for

Orpheus.

2.

Mr. Cardile's valuations

As noted, respondent offered the expert report and testimony of Paul

Cardile. Mr. Cardile assigned valuation date fair market values of $2,100,000 to

Maypole and $500,000 to Orpheus. He attributed Orpheus to Jan Brueghel the

Elder but acknowledged a dispute over its attribution and therefore provided an

alternate valuation of $325,000 in the event the painting were attributed to Jan

Brueghel the Younger (as contended by Mr. Wachter). Mr. Cardile employed a

comparative market data approach as his valuation method.

-30[*30]

a.

Maypole

Mr. Cardile's report observes that Maypole's image is one of Pieter

Brueghel's more popular motifs and is discussed in all the major works written

about him. The report explains that the popularity of kermesse (i.e., festival)

scenes such as Maypole caused Pieter Brueghel to produce multiple versions

through his workshop, with differing degrees of involvement by Brueghel himself

as opposed to workshop craftsmen. According to the report, the successful works

would receive Pieter Brueghel's signature and sometimes the date.

Mr. Cardile's report contends that the quality and valuation of Pieter

Brueghel's works largely turn on three factors: (1) the degree to which Pieter

Brueghel's "hand"--that is, his direct intervention, correction, and supervision--is

apparent in the work; (2) the condition of the work; and (3) the size of the work.

The report notes that provenance (i.e., record of ownership) and citation in the

literature are additional factors that may add to the value indicated by the first

three.

The report identifies as comparables, and provides the public auction sale

prices for, four Pieter Brueghel paintings featuring the same subject and

composition as Maypole (Maypole-scene paintings) that were sold at auction from

1986 through 1999, as follows:

- 31 [*31]

Date of sale

Description (inches)

Price

Apr. 9, 1986

Peasants Dancing Around a

Maypole (20 by 29.5)

$538,560

Village Scene With Peasants

Dancing Around a

Maypole (19.5 by 33.7)

3,330,252

Dec. 3, 1997

Jan. 28, 1999

Village Kermesse With

Dance Around the Maypole

(21.75 by 30.5)

Dec. 4, 1999

1,047,500

Der Tanz um den Maibaum

[Dance Around the

Maypole] (19.3 by 30.1)

1,160,811

According to the report, no other versions of the Maypole scene sold from

1999 through the valuation date. However, the report identifies three other

paintings by Pieter Brueghel featuring a village kermesse but not a Maypole scene

--which, according to the report, were "well within the parameters" of

comparables--that did sell at public auction during this period, as follows:

Date of sale

July 12, 2001

Description (inches)

A Village Kermesse

(39 by 65.7)

Dec. 8, 2004

$5,419,831

Kermesse of St. George

(46 by 69.1)

July 7, 2005

Price

7,159,767

Kermesse of St. George

(28.4 by 40.6)

3,957,746

- 32 [*32] Mr. Cardile's report treats these latter three paintings as a "secondary" group

of comparables, cited for the purpose of demonstrating that the market for Pieter

Brueghel village scenes remained strong after the international economic downturn

that followed the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and

continued to strengthen through the first half of 2005.

With respect to the comparables, Mr. Cardile's report opines that Maypole

was closest in quality and condition to the Maypole-scene painting that sold for

$3,330,272 in 1997. That Maypole-scene painting, according to Mr. Cardile, was

considered by some to be the prototype for the others. Maypole (i.e., the painting

at issue) exhibited the quality of the 1997-auctioned Maypole-scene painting

because, Mr. Cardile opined, the facial characteristics in both were more lifelike,

reflecting work by Pieter Brueghel himself rather than workshop craftsmen. Mr.

Cardile found the Maypole-scene painting that sold for $538,560 in 1986 to be a

poor comparable because it had been transferred from its original support and was

therefore in a compromised condition. Likewise, he thought the two Maypolescene paintings that each sold for approximately $1 million in 1999 to be inferior

artistically in that the facial features of the villagers were more caricaturelike,

demonstrating a greater amount of workshop intervention than with Maypole.

- 33 [*33] The estate through its expert Mr. Wachter offered no specific rebuttal to

Mr. Cardile's thesis that Maypole was most comparable to the 1997-auctioned

Maypole-scene painting because both exhibited superior artistic quality in the

rendering of facial features (reflecting the hand of Pieter Brueghel himself).

Mr. Wachter conceded that Mr. Cardile's comparables were "good" ones but

insisted that the most comparable of the Maypole-scene paintings was one of the

1999-auctioned works--specifically the one auctioned at Sotheby's for $1,047,500

--because that painting, like Maypole on the valuation date, was quite dirty.

The Maypole-scene painting he argues is most comparable to Maypole sold

for over $1 million on January 28, 1999, in a dirty, uncleaned condition (as

contended by Mr. Wachter and as reflected in the photograph thereof in evidence).

Both that work and Maypole are of the same scene and are the same approximate

size. Yet Mr. Wachter's position is that Maypole's value more than six years later

on the valuation date was only $500,000--not quite half the sale price of the work

he deems most comparable.2° Mr. Wachter sought to reconcile this discrepancy by

2°Mr. Wachter also offered no rebuttal to Mr. Cardile's contention that the

market for Pieter Brueghel paintings remained strong from 1999 through 2005-notwithstanding the international economic downturn occasioned by the

September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States--as supported by his

auction sale data from 2001, 2004, and 2005.

- 34 [*34] contending that Maypole was so much dirtier than the 1999-auctioned

Maypole-scene painting that the risk of cleaning it was considerably greater.

Mr. Wachter is, again, unpersuasive. As before, we reject his "cleaning

risk" thesis as exaggerated as to any value diminution. Mr. Cardile's reasons for

finding the 1997-auctioned Maypole-scene painting most comparable to Maypole

have not been rebutted by the estate, and we accept his opinion on this point.

Having established the comparability of the 1997-auctioned Maypole-scene

painting, Mr. Cardile's report nonetheless contends that a downward adjustment in

Maypole's value was appropriate to account for the fact that the 1997-auctioned

work's provenance was superior to Maypole's--the former, according to

Mr. Cardile's findings, having come from the collection of a well-known collector

whereas Maypole was likely from the F. B. Greenstreet Collection in London and

then was in a lesser-known American private collection (i.e., decedent's) from

approximately 1940.

Finally, Mr. Cardile's report considered the village-kermesse-scene

comparables that were auctioned in 2001, 2004, and 2005 for prices ranging from

approximately $4 to $7 million, taking into account the larger size of each and the

different subject matter. Relying principally on the 1997-auctioned work, and

Maypole's similar superior artistic quality and condition, yet lesser provenance,

- 35 [*35] Mr. Cardile concluded that Maypole's fair market value on August 31, 2005,

was $2,100,000.

We accept that valuation with one qualification. On the basis of the entire

record, we are satisfied that on the valuation date Maypole was quite dirty and

needed to be cleaned by a conservator. We further accept that cleaning such a

painting presented some degree of risk of damage for which a hypothetical willing

buyer would insist on a discount. We are not persuaded of Mr. Wachter's

description of the nature or degree of that risk, as it is incompatible with the

routine manner in which Mr. Hyland, in consultation with a preeminent

conservator, made the decision to clean the painting. Mr. Cardile made no

adjustment for the dirty condition of Maypole on the valuation date, observing that

"surface dirt do[es] not affect the intrinsic value of an Old Master Painting." In

view of the conservators' assessment of the low risk of cleaning, we place the

discount at 5%. Respondent has therefore shown, and we hold, that the fair market

value of Maypole on the valuation date was 95% of Mr. Cardile's $2,100,000

valuation, or $1,995,000.

b.

Orpheus

As noted, Mr. Cardile's report attributed Orpheus to Jan Brueghel the Elder

in contrast to Mr. Wachter's position that it should be attributed to Jan Brueghel

- 36 [*36] the Younger. Mr. Cardile's report offered several reasons for this position.

First, the report notes the catalog from a 1940 exhibition of Orpheus at West's

Gallery in London made this same attribution. Second, the report opines that

although Orpheus appears to be a unique composition, the style in which the

animals are painted shows the hand of Jan Brueghel the Elder as reflected in the

rendering of animals in his known works. Third, the report cites the writings of

Klaus Ertz--acknowledged by both expert witnesses as a key authority on the

Brueghels--for the proposition that mythological themes played "a rather

subordinate role" in Jan Brueghel the Younger's work.

Mr. Cardile's report found that no works of the same subject and

composition as Orpheus, either by Jan Brueghel the Elder or Jan Brueghel the

Younger, were sold at public auction between 1986 and August 2005. However,

the report posits that three nonetheless comparable works by Jan Brueghel the

Elder were sold at auction from 2001 to 2004, as follows:

- 37 [*37]

D_ate

June 24, 2004

Dec. 10, 2003

Jan. 26, 2001

Description (inches)

Pnce

St. Margaret and the

Dragon (10.4 by 14)

$422,050

Virgin and Child With

Saints Surrounded by

Garlands in a Landscape

(36.9 by 28.5)

2,159,249

Allegory of the Five

Senses (24.2 by 39.4)

666,000

The report posits that if Orpheus is attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder, it

compares favorably to his other works and displays the best of his style. It opines

that Orpheus is more valuable than the 2004-auctioned work, because the latter is

smaller, but is less valuable than the 2001-auctioned work, because the latter is

larger and more complex.2¹ The report accordingly estimates the fair market value

of Orpheus if attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder at $500,000.

In view of the dispute over attribution, Mr. Cardile's report also posited

comparables if Orpheus were attributed to Jan Brueghel the Younger. Those

comparables were sold at public auction from 2001 through 2005, as follows:

2¹Mr. Cardile does not address the comparability of the 2003-auctioned

work. The sale of this work would tend to suggest a higher value for Orpheus in

any event.

- 38 [*38]

D_ate

Description (inches)

P1jce

July 6, 2005

Garden of Eden (23 by

35.2)

$364,788

Element of Air (21.5 by

37)

348,822

Sense of Hearing (22.5

by 34.6")

333,359

Allegory of the Four

Elements (25.8 by

37.4)

469,541

Apr. 18, 2002

July 10, 2002

July 11, 2001

The report concludes that a "conservative" estimate of Orpheus' value if attributed

to Jan Bruegel the Younger would be $325,000, a figure less than any of the cited

comparables' sale prices.

Finally, Mr. Cardile's report notes with respect to Orpheus' condition that

"no bowing of the surface is apparent from the submitted photographic images"

and that "surface dirt do[es] not affect the intrinsic value of an Old Master

Painting."

We generally accept Mr. Cardile's fair market value estimates for Orpheus.

He presented cogent explanations for concluding that the painting is properly

attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder whereas Mr. Wachter offered only the

conclusory observation that he was unaware of any leading scholar who would

- 39 [*39] contend for the attribution to Jan Brueghel the Elder. As with Maypole,

Mr. Cardile supported his valuations of Orpheus with reasoned argument based on

objective market data.

However, we find that certain adjustments are necessary. First, as with

Maypole, Mr. Cardile made no adjustment for the dirty condition of Orpheus on

the valuation date. The evidence satisfies us that Orpheus was quite dirty on the

valuation date and therefore in need of a routine cleaning by a conservator. We

thus, as with Maypole, apply a 5% discount to account for the risk of cleaning.

Second, Mr. Cardile's report makes clear that he did not believe Orpheus

was bowed. The Lowy condition report establishes to our satisfaction that Orpheus

was bowed on the valuation date. Mr. Cardile conceded at trial that bowing,

depending on its extent, would "possibly" have a negative impact on Orpheus'

value. The record provides us scant evidence upon which to calculate the discount

a willing buyer would insist upon for bowing, though our best judgment is that

some discount would be necessary in relation to an identical painting that was not

bowed. We find guidance nonetheless in the fact that the estate's expert,

Mr. Wachter, whose valuation was based upon a firsthand inspection of Orpheus,

made no mention of the bowing in his report. We therefore will apply a 10%

discount off Mr. Cardile's valuation to account for the bowing.

- 40 [*40] Finally, while we found Mr. Cardile's report largely persuasive regarding

Orpheus' attribution to Jan Brueghel the Elder, an attribution dispute nevertheless

exists, rendering a discount appropriate. See Mathias v. Commissioner, 50 T.C.

994, 998 (1968); Doherty v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1992-98, 63 T.C.M.

(CCH) 2112, 2114-2115 (1992), af[d, 16 F.3d 338 (9th Cir. 1994). Mr. Cardile

valued Orpheus at $500,000 if attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder and $325,000 if

attributed to Jan Brueghel the Younger, an effective 35% discount for attribution to

the lesser-regarded artist. Because Mr. Cardile has made a stronger case for

attribution to Jan Brueghel the Elder, we weight the discount towards that

attribution and limit it to 10%. Thus, applying a total discount of 25% off Mr.

Cardile's $500,000 valuation premised on a Jan Brueghel the Elder attribution,

respondent has met his burden of showing, and we hold, that Orpheus had a fair

market value of $375,000 on the valuation date.

To reflect the foregoing,

Decision will be entered

under Rule 155.