About Us

Two years after he started selling Chinese antiques from his living room in 1967, Isadore Chait opened his first gallery of Asian Art. Today, I.M. Chait Gallery/Auctioneers has expanded into their 20,000 square foot facility and auction room, conducting 20+ auctions a year and is consistently referred to as the premier boutique auction house of Beverly Hills.

His auctions of 500+ lots each have a remarkable sell-through rate average of 80-90%, with prices ranging from $100 to $1,000,000. While specializing in Asian Art and antiques I.M. Chait has expanded into jewelry, watches, fine art and even one of a kind fossils! Chait believes in demonstrating through the auctions that collectors do not need to pay extravagant prices for genuine art. As a result of his stellar widespread reputation, his expert advice is frequently sought by the most sophisticated art lovers, decorators, novice collectors and fellow experts alike.

According to Architectural Digest "Isadore Chait, specialist in Oriental sculpture and expert in gemology, has developed a worldwide reputation among museums and collectors, and is frequently consulted by both groups for authentication, market value and appraisals." He is a recommended appraiser for many museums, universities and government agencies, including the J. Paul Getty Museum, Pacific Asia Museum, Norton Simon Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Claremont University Center and the Consulate General of The Peoples Republic of China.

He has served on panels of the Appraisers Association of America, as President of their Southern California regional office, and sits on the board of the Los Angeles Gem Council as well as numerous other professional associations. A member of many of the international appraisers' associations, Mr. Chait has been called on to write the tests qualifying other appraisers in his field.

Mr. Chait's expert advice on subjects ranging from Chinese porcelain, price fluctuations and appraisals is frequently published in many trade publications including a regularly featured column for The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles. Chait and his unique offerings sold at auction have appeared on most major cable and network news outlets including CNN, MSNC, CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox. Mr. Chait has also been featured in many prominent newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times and Forbes.

Mr. Chait is also an accomplished Jazz singer and plays regular gigs with his quartet in his spare time and is completing his manuscript for a comprehensive guide to collecting Asian Art to be released next year.

• Graduated cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles, Bachelor's Degree, Anthropology.
• Established as a dealer in Oriental art in 1969.
• Member of the Appraisers Association of America, having served as a panel member regarding fakes and forgeries in Asian art and also as a consultant specializing in Asian Art.
• President of the Appraisers Association of America, Southern California Regional Headquarters.
• Wrote the Qualifications Examination in Oriental Ceramics for the International Society of Appraisers.
• Member Mid-American Appraisers Association.
• Appointed panel member to the Board of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association.
• Member Alumni Association of the Gemologist Institute of America.
• Charter Senior Member National Association of Jewelry Appraisers.
• Member American Association of Dealers in Antiques.
• Member Antiques Dealers Association of America.
• Recommended appraiser and used by many of the major national museums and universities, including: J. Paul Getty Museum, Norton Simon Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Claremont University Center, University of California at Los Angeles, etc.
• Former Consultant to Sotheby Park-Bernet, Los Angeles, in the area of Oriental arts.
• State of California licensed and bonded auctioneer and member of the Southern California Auctioneers Association and California Auctioneers Association.
• Travels to Asia three or more times per year, actively buying and selling through his Gallery and at auctions. He frequents Antiques Fairs, and other auctions across the United States to keep current with the values and trends in the art field.
• Is used as consultant to most local appraisers when specialized expertise is required in Oriental art.
• Has testified and been deposed as an expert witness on numerous occasions and is frequently called upon by Law Enforcement agencies as an expert witness.
• Having a vast library of books and monographs on all aspects of Asian art and other arts, Mr. Chait also has auction records relating to sales in New York, London and Hong Kong on various Oriental arts, collectibles, jewelry, etc. dating back more than 30+ years.
• Has held several very successful auctions through his Hong Kong based auction company.

• Specialist on all Oriental Objects of Art: porcelains, enamels, jades, carvings, bronzes; snuff bottles, netsuke, lacquer, etc.
• Gems and Gemological Reports: precious and semiprecious stones, antique and modern.
• Objets de Vertu: antique and ancient jewelry, enameled arts, Russian works of art, etc.
• American Indian Arts and Artifacts: baskets, rugs, beadwork, jewelry, North West Coast, etc.
• Antiquities: Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian, etc.
• Art Nouveau and Art Deco: jewelry, art glass, pate de verre, Tiffany, etc.
• Catalogue compilation and photography.
• Purchasing and Marketing information.
• Investment consultant in all phases of the Antique, Jewelry, or Art world markets -- local and abroad.