Sandhya Jain-Patel
Principal Art Advisor and Appraiser
With over 20 years of experience in art valuations and expertise in the care, collection, and appraisal of fine art, Sandhya brings unparalleled knowledge and professional excellence to every appraisal and advisory engagement.
Unique Qualifications
Sandhya Jain-Patel is Principal Art Advisor and Appraiser at Sandhya Jain-Patel LLC, with over 20 years of experience in art valuations and expertise in the care, collection, and appraisal of fine art. She previously served as Vice President and Head of the Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art Department at Christie's New York, where she led her team in appraising, marketing, and selling fine art from classical through contemporary periods. Mrs. Jain-Patel speaks Hindi fluently and is proficient in Italian.
Appraisal Experience
During her tenure at Christie's, Mrs. Jain-Patel conducted valuations for insurance, donations, gift tax, estate tax, acquisitions, and deacquisitions. Her department set multi-million dollar records and handled prestigious collections including the Pal Family Collection, the Estate of Francis Newton Souza, and the collections of Shumita and Arani Bose, Mahinder and Sharad Tak, and the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection.
Notable Achievements
•Identifying a lost Indian court painting by Nainsukh of Guler (sold for $1.6 million in 2008)
•Bringing the Doris Wiener Collection to auction ($12.7 million in March 2012)
•Securing the Collection of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth ($134 million in March 2015)
Professional Affiliations
Appraisers Association of America (AAA), Certified Member since 2021, and Member of the Education Committee
Art Market Mentors, Founding Mentor
American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Candidate Member
American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Candidate Member
Education and Research
Mrs. Jain-Patel's expertise spans fine arts conservation, research science, and South and Southeast Asian art history and culture. She completed a Fulbright Scholarship in India, where she conducted studio visits with contemporary artists, studied with the last handmade papermaker, and advised on the conservation of works on paper. She has also held research and conservation positions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Judith Eisenberg Textile Conservation Studios.
Publications:
"Research and Treatment of a 15th century Nepalese Thangka"
"Innovations in the Materials and Techniques of Contemporary Indian Miniature Painting"
Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, MA in Art History and MA in Fine Arts Conservation
University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey, MS in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Rutgers University, BS in Biology and BS in Art History
Professional Art Services
With decades of expertise and unparalleled credentials, I provide comprehensive art appraisal and advisory services you can trust.