DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions announced that Joseph Francaviglia has joined the company as Director of Trust & Estates, based in its Beverly Hills office. Bringing more than 25 years of experience in the international art market, Francaviglia will work closely with trust and estate attorneys, fiduciaries, wealth managers, certified public accountants and their clients on the West Coast, helping connect them with Heritage’s industry-leading appraisal, private sales and auction services.
Francaviglia joins Heritage following nearly two decades at Bonhams, where he most recently served as Vice President and Director of Trusts, Estates & Valuation Services. There, he led the firm’s U.S. appraisal operations, overseeing hundreds of formal appraisals annually while advising on complex valuation matters and IRS compliance. He also played a key role in cultivating major fiduciary relationships and bringing important estates and private collections to market.
“Joe is one of the most respected professionals in the Trust & Estates field,” says Samantha Anderson, Heritage’s Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President of Special Projects. “His depth of experience, particularly in appraisals, fiduciary services and complex estate matters related to art and collectibles makes him an exceptional addition to Heritage. As we continue expanding our presence on the West Coast and investing in resources for attorneys, trust officers and families, Joe’s expertise and relationships will be invaluable.”
Among Francaviglia’s career accomplishments, he directed Bonhams’ U.S. appraisal services, helping grow appraisal revenue dramatically while ensuring compliance with internal policies, IRS regulations and evolving valuation standards. He also led responses to IRS Art Appraisal Services inquiries and was instrumental in the appraisal of tangible personal property from the Estate of Michael Jackson, the largest and most complex estate appraisal ever undertaken by the firm.
Prior to Bonhams, Francaviglia served as Director at David Zwirner in New York and spent a decade at Christie’s, where he held several positions, including within its Trusts, Estates & Appraisals Department. Throughout his career, he has worked with prominent estates and collections and has become a trusted advisor to estate planning professionals across the United States. He has also lectured on the art market and valuation issues for Partnership for Philanthropic Planning and several estate-planning organizations.
“Heritage has assembled an extraordinary team of specialists across virtually every collecting category, giving clients access to unmatched expertise and an exceptional global platform, which continually brings record prices,” Francaviglia says. “I’m excited to join a company so committed to serving fiduciaries and their clients, and I look forward to helping attorneys, wealth managers and families navigate important appraisal and estate decisions with confidence.”
A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Art History, Francaviglia has completed executive coursework at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and maintains current USPAP compliance through 2028. He will be based in Heritage’s Beverly Hills office, where he will focus on expanding relationships with fiduciaries and helping clients across the West Coast.
