Whether you are a private collector, a family office, a law firm, or an institution — these are the questions we are asked most often. If you do not find what you need here, contact us via the Contact page.
What does a heritage consultant do?
A heritage consultant advises individuals, corporations, and institutions on the management, protection, and strategic development of cultural heritage assets. This includes art collection advisory, provenance research, preventive conservation planning, risk assessment, and compliance with national and international cultural property law. Fred Van de Walle at Holmes Heritage Consulting has over 25 years of international fieldwork experience across maritime archaeology, fine art, and heritage protection, based in Greifensee, Switzerland.
What is art collection advisory?
Art collection advisory helps private collectors, corporations, and family offices make informed decisions about acquiring, managing, insuring, and disposing of art and cultural objects. It covers due diligence before purchase, condition assessment, valuation, storage and display recommendations, and long-term collection strategy. Holmes Heritage Consulting provides independent advisory not tied to gallery sales or auction commissions.
What is preventive conservation?
Preventive conservation controls the environment and handling conditions around an object to slow its deterioration without touching the object itself. This includes managing light levels, temperature, humidity, pest control, storage materials, and handling procedures. Holmes Heritage Consulting provides preventive conservation audits and written care plans for private and corporate collections.
What is provenance research and why does it matter?
Provenance research traces the ownership history of an artwork or cultural object from its creation to the present day. Objects with gaps in their ownership history may be stolen, looted, or illegally exported — exposing buyers to legal risk and reputational damage. Holmes Heritage Consulting conducts provenance research using international databases, auction records, museum registries, and specialist networks. Fred Van de Walle holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage Protection from ARCA.
What is art crime consultation?
Art crime consultation covers due diligence for collectors and institutions concerned about the legal status of objects they own or intend to purchase. This includes checking objects against the Art Loss Register, assessing ownership documentation, and advising on compliance with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on cultural property. Holmes Heritage Consulting also advises on digital art crime and the protection of artistic innovation in new media.
What is a collection audit?
A collection audit is a systematic review of every object in a collection — confirming what exists, its condition, its documentation, its legal status, and its value. The result is a structured inventory used for insurance, estate planning, loan agreements, sale, or donation. Holmes Heritage Consulting conducts collection audits for private collectors, family estates, and corporate art collections across Switzerland and internationally.
What does collection management involve?
Collection management covers the ongoing administration of an art or heritage collection — maintaining accurate records, tracking locations, managing loans and transportation, overseeing conservation treatments, coordinating valuations, and advising on acquisitions and deaccessions. Holmes Heritage Consulting provides collection management services for collectors who want professional oversight without employing a full-time curator.
What is an independent art appraisal?
An independent art appraisal is a written valuation of an artwork or cultural object by a specialist with no commercial interest in the sale. Independent appraisals are used for insurance coverage, estate settlement, tax purposes, legal disputes, and acquisition decisions. Holmes Heritage Consulting provides independent appraisals in English, French, German, and Dutch.
What is marine archaeological conservation?
Marine archaeological conservation is the specialist discipline of stabilising, treating, and preserving objects recovered from underwater sites including shipwrecks, harbour structures, and submerged settlements. Fred Van de Walle holds a BASc in Conservation of Marine Archaeological Materials and has worked on deep-sea wreck recovery projects including HMS Victory (1744), SS Gairsoppa at 4,695 metres depth, SS Republic, and Vrouw Maria (1771).
Which shipwreck projects has Fred Van de Walle worked on?
Fred Van de Walle has worked on HMS Victory (1744), SS Gairsoppa (4,695 metres), SS Central America, SS Republic, SS Mantola (1917), Uluburun, Tortugas 1622, Deep-sea Ottoman Trader Site 71Sd, Vrouw Maria (1771), Kronprins Gustav Adolf (1788), Baie des Pirates / Île Sainte-Marie, Doelse Kogge, Viking Age Lake Structure, and SWAP. A full project overview is available on the Projects page.
What is the difference between conservation and restoration?
Conservation stabilises an object and prevents further deterioration. Restoration returns an object closer to a known earlier state, which may involve filling losses, retouching, or structural repair. Professional ethics require that all restoration work is reversible and clearly documented.
What is cultural heritage risk assessment?
A cultural heritage risk assessment identifies and evaluates threats facing a collection or heritage site — fire, flood, theft, vandalism, pest infestation, structural failure, and environmental damage. The assessment produces a prioritised action plan. Holmes Heritage Consulting conducts risk assessments for private collections, corporate art holdings, and heritage properties across Switzerland and internationally.
Can Holmes Heritage Consulting advise on art for corporate offices?
Yes. Corporate art collection advisory covers the acquisition, display, management, and disposition of art held by companies and institutions. This includes developing an acquisition policy, selecting works appropriate to the corporate identity, managing relationships with artists and galleries, and ensuring the collection is properly documented and insured.
What qualifications does Fred Van de Walle hold?
Fred Van de Walle holds a Meester in Conservatie/Restauratie (Hogeschool Antwerpen, 2000), BASc Conservation of Marine Archaeological Materials (EVTEK Finland, 2002), Postgraduate Certificate in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage Protection (ARCA, 2015), SVQ Level 4 Management (Scottish Qualifications Authority, 2006), Certified Management Drives Trainer (Management Drives Belgium, 2019), and is a Certified Leadership Coach and Management Assessor.
Does Holmes Heritage Consulting work internationally?
Yes. Holmes Heritage Consulting is based in Greifensee, Switzerland, and accepts assignments worldwide. Fred Van de Walle works in English, French, German, and Dutch.
What published work and lectures has Fred Van de Walle produced?
Fred Van de Walle co-presented at the ARCA 2024 annual conference on New Frontiers in Art Crime Encroaching on Old Borders: Protecting Artistic Innovation in the Digital Age, jointly with Cinnamon Stephens, Art Law Specialist, Amsterdam. A full list is available on the Publications page.
What do clients say about working with Fred Van de Walle?
"Simply put, Fred is the most professional conservator I have seen in action in the last 20 years." — Dr Sean Kingsley, Wreck Watch International.
"Frederick is one of the most able and knowledgeable conservators I have met in any field of museum conservation." — Dr Tom Flynn, Kingston University London.
"I cannot recommend him highly enough." — Dr Theo Skinner BSc DipCon PhD, National Museums of Scotland.
How do I commission a consultation?
Contact Holmes Heritage Consulting via the Contact page with a brief description of your collection and your objectives. Fred Van de Walle will respond within two business days. Initial consultations are available by video call for international clients.
```