Founder

Jennifer’s abiding passion for fine and decorative arts led her to walk away from a successful career as the CAO for a multi-million-dollar consulting firm to attain a post-graduate degree in 17th & 18th century decorative arts from Sotheby’s Institute, London and a Master’s degree in Fine and Decorative Arts from the University of Manchester, UK. Returning to New York, Jennifer was hired by Christie’s as a specialist in European Furniture, starting at Christie’s East and later joining the team at Rockefeller Center. In 2002, she started her own consulting business, brokering, and exhibiting pieces around the country and regularly consulting for Christie’s and other auction houses. In 2007, Jennifer was retained as an appraiser, specialist, and expert witness of European Furniture and Decorative Arts for a complex court case that ultimately led her to start Art Peritus. Since then, Art Peritus has earned an outstanding reputation for excellence within the art, auction and insurance industry. This has earned Art Peritus trusted affiliations with global insurance carriers such as AIG, Chubb, PURE, and Cincinnati, working closely with adjusters, private client advisors and the insured collector. Nearly all Art Peritus clients establish longstanding relationships with the firm, and Jennifer remains one of the industry’s most sought-after appraisal and advisory specialists in the decorative arts. Jennifer is a certified member (and former Board member) of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and has served on the furniture vetting committee for the Winter Antiques Show in NYC for over 20 years. She has also served on vetting committees for the International Art & Antiques Show and the TEFAF fall show in NYC. Jennifer is a published author who has taught seminars for the AAA on insurance claim appraising, damage and loss valuation, conservator workshops, and the identification and authentication of antique furniture. She is compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) through January 2026.

Fun Fact: Did you know that our founder's childhood hobby of exploring English country houses sparked a fascination with State Beds? This passion led her to delve deep into the world of historical furnishings, culminating in a dissertation on Robert Adam’s state bed at Osterley Park and an internship at Hampton Court Palace creating an inventory of State Beds in National Trust properties. Affectionately dubbed "the crazy bed lady" by her colleagues, she's even integrating her expertise into a historical fiction novel featuring "Gwen Scott, State Bed Expert," who embarks on a thrilling journey to uncover a long-lost treasure