How Our Brokerage Services Work

Once we take agreed to act equally the fine fine art banker for your fine fine art– whether a single oil painting or sculpture or an entire collection – we will present y'all with a straightforward and simple brokerage agreement. Equally shortly as this is co-signed, our team moves very quickly and efficiently on your behalf to enquiry, authenticate, value, promote and sell your artwork.

We are seeking clients who demand advice and skillful art brokerage help in order to discreetly sell their 18th – 20th century American or European artwork by major artists.

Nosotros are seeking clients who need advice and proficient fine art brokerage assist in lodge to discreetly sell their 18th – 20th century American or European artwork by major artists.

Our preliminary research includes finding, and discussing with you, comparable recent sales. Before our bodily possession of your artwork, a "net cost" (i.e.: what you lot will get paid when the particular is sold), is mutually agreed upon. If any deviation from this cyberspace price – for whatever reason – is necessary, we will e'er consult with you, every bit the Agreement stipulates, so that we are in complete mutual understanding over the cyberspace cost. Rarely, the need does arise to renegotiate with you lot the amount that nosotros stated yous would realize for your artwork. Nosotros will never change the agreed toll for your artwork without complete consultation and approval from y'all.

When the fourth dimension comes to ship or pick upwards your artwork, we take no chances at all. The brokerage understanding will stipulate that all items in our possession are fully covered by a comprehensive insurance policy. If needed, we can have our insurance agent confirm this for you. In this mode, you volition feel 100% comfortable and assured that your artwork will exist condom and very well protected until sold. We are happy to written report that nosotros have never had any damages, losses, or theft, and we will proceed to do what is necessary to maintain that track record. Importantly, the insurance coverage is at no cost to yous, the owner/consignor.

Mary Cassatt A Cup of Tea c. 1879

Mary Cassatt (1844 – 1926)
A Loving cup of Tea c. 1879

We continue all aspects of the promotion and auction of your item(due south) private and very "selective." Your identity, location, etc. are kept completely confidential, unless it is necessary in the early stages for the "in person inspection" and ultimate sale of your item(s). Yet, this is rare, and fifty-fifty then we will only provide your information later nosotros take your full consent.

By and large, about items consigned to u.s. are sold within 30 business days. Some artwork, if "ready to sell" immediately, can often be placed with a buyer in 7-10 concern days. Exceptions are commonly in the case of very expensive items (valued in the range of 7-8 figures) or in items where extra time is required for enquiry involving provenance, historical information, scientific testing of materials or outsourcing expert authentication help.

All of our clients are paid within 10 business days from the time we receive the proceeds and receive "guaranteed funds," such as a cashier'southward check or bank wire transfer.

How Nosotros're Different and Unique

Auction houses are, in sure situations – and with the proper guidance from seasoned experts that are experienced and savvy at negotiating on the seller'southward behalf – an option, provided that the items are "fresh." When because the appropriate avenue for the sale of a work of art or a drove, there are many issues to consider and negotiate: having an appropriate pre-sale sale judge so that buyers are motivated, verses existence "scared abroad,";  favorable seller's commission; advantageous catalogue placement; prominent location in the pre-sale exhibition and adequate pre-sale publicity in the proper venues. Fine art Investments can offer expert guidance if this is the road that an possessor is contemplating taking in selling their artwork or an unabridged estate.

Maurice Prendergast After the Review c. 1895

Maurice Prendergast (1858 – 1924)
Later on the Review c. 1895

However, it tin take months before the auction "most advisable" for the your specific category of artwork is scheduled and when that time comes, payment to the consignor is no less than thirty (xxx) days after the auction. In the case of assignment galleries and dealers, the wait may exist even longer before a final buyer for 1's specific artwork comes forth. Assuming an item sells, some collectors insist on special "payment terms," which prolong the receipt of seller's gain. We don't work that way. Finally, depending on what terms are negotiated before the assignment agreement is signed, at least 25-40% in commissions and fees are charged to the seller. The fine print in most auction house's "Terms of Agreement" stipulates that the consignor must pay them a "purchase-in" fee if the particular fails to sell.

We are happy to hash out advising you lot, should you choose the auction route. Even so, in contrast, as stated earlier, our clients are paid inside ten (10) business days from the fourth dimension we receive the funds for the sale. We sell only to an established listing of buyers we know who are eager to purchase the types and quality of works of art for which we accept go known to handle. You oasis't read most these sales considering they are "Individual" and we accept that term literally. Many of our private buyers have bought major art through us over the years; others on our list are buyers with excellent reputations who are the "get-to collector" for a detail artist's work. These individual buyers pay all fees, commissions and miscellaneous costs associated with any sale, unless otherwise discussed with and agreed to by yous. In some cases nosotros cover certain fees ourselves and get reimbursed when we receive our commission from the heir-apparent.

Maurice Prendergast After the Review c. 1895

Maurice Prendergast
Afterward the Review c. 1895

When we are your art broker for your fine fine art, it is start offered, naturally, to the most likely prospects for a particular work of art. These are besides buyers adamant past us to be extremely discreet. If the start prospect "passes," we move on to the next most likely heir-apparent. The marketplace need not know that an detail has been offered earlier. This arroyo gives our firm a major reward in near instances over traditional "fine art or antiquarian dealers" — specifically gallery owners who choose to publicly display the work, which removes the allure of a single work (or a collection of art) existence "fresh to the market."

How Nosotros Get Results For Y'all – Why It Makes Sense

It may appear logical that, similar choosing the right doctor, checking several potential brokers or auction houses for one'due south artwork or drove of art is a manner to ensure the best possible terms and ultimately the all-time financial return. However, this approach has been proven fourth dimension and time again to accept the reverse effect. If one "shops effectually," their valuable item (s), they run the very real risk of overexposure – which tin drastically lower the value of a work of art in the marketplace. To make sure you lot become practiced results we offering discreet, professional art brokerage services of authentic, American or European fine artwork that is fresh to the market and which results in the maximum fiscal return to the seller. As your personal fine fine art broker, we will work on your behalf to sell your collection or work of fine art provided that nosotros are the exclusive representatives/advisors in the process of selling your or your client's property.

Fine Fine art Broker
–noun

1. 1 who acts every bit your personal agent to prepare your fine artwork by expertly authenticating, pricing, discreetly marketing and finally locating willing buyers.

2. A private artwork expert who sells for a main or owner without having championship to the property.

Our fine art brokerage process is very similar to that of a existent estate agent. Our unproblematic to sympathise, professional person, brokerage agreement is very straightforward, stating that you lot (the customer or seller), have agreed to work exclusively with us (the broker or agent) for a certain predetermined flow of fourth dimension. We generally can sell items (which may or may not besides include decorative arts such as rare, early on furniture or rare Asian items) which need no extensive enquiry, authentication procedure or expert status written report, within thirty business days. Ofttimes, we can find a buyer within a week or ten days. We then get paid quickly and transfer the money to you within 7-10 business organization days after we are paid. That's the experienced, professional approach – ane in which your item (s) will sell more quickly and for the best possible price. It is also a proven and successful method which nosotros accept employed for over twoscore years.

If you lot tin see the uncomplicated logic in this professional approach, and would similar to have your artwork sold privately and discreetly for a strong price, without having to pay: seller's commissions and related fees, aircraft, insurance, storage, etc., we are the house for yous.

The "Heir-apparent Pays All The Fees" Approach – No Fees to the Seller

The largest costs to an possessor when selling at auction, through a dealer, or gallery are the "fees and commissions" that they must pay for their services. Most of these concerns (either straight or indirectly) charge a fee to both the buyer and seller. We practise not. Our philosophy is simple: buyers pay a Heir-apparent's Premium (BP) of up to 25 percent if they purchase at any auction house, or indirectly pay more if they buy through a consignment gallery or a dealer. Even though the buyer pays it, importantly, this money does not go to y'all, the owner. In contrast, we charge the merely the buyer a reasonable "finder's fee." While we do non brand every bit much (on each item sold) as we would if we were getting a standard twenty% plus fee from the seller – every bit well every bit a hefty premium from the buyer – we make up for it in quantity of sales. Most importantly, this arroyo keeps you, the seller, from paying whatsoever fees to us.

We work very hard to keep our overhead as low as possible. We don't have a showy, upscale gallery with the accompanying high monthly hire, utilities, payroll and advertisement costs, etc. We sell to a substantial, established list of serious, qualified private collectors from around the world, so there's no need for us to have a storefront or spend many thousands monthly on advertizing and "sales staff".

It's unproblematic math and common sense. There'due south a big departure in the amount of income our firm has to make when selling an item to comprehend our business organization expenses, versus what a firm with a huge monthly overhead needs to take in to pay their bills and make a decent profit. It makes perfect sense to usa, and we hope it does to you lot as well.

The Dangers of "Overexposure"

Because it'south a problem we come across then often, we simply can't stress enough to you the importance of understanding the very real dangers and consequences associated with overexposure. If you show or offer your artwork – by fashion of sending images to auction houses, dealers or collectors – it can seriously jeopardize efforts to get the best possible price or even to sell a slice at all. When selling loftier quality fine or decorative art, information technology is very important that it be "fresh" to the market place. For this reason, nosotros cannot emphasize enough the importance of coming to us kickoff.

The "art earth" is actually very small. Collectors, brokers, experts, museum curators, auction firm employees, dealers and even some conservators, speak with each other ofttimes regarding artwork or images they take seen. Even an owner's contact information has been known to have been shared with others with the promise of a commission if things "work out." We find this practice to be unprofessional and very risky for the possessor. When offered discreetly and efficiently to the right buyer, loftier quality, authenticated fine artwork tends to move rather apace. Conversely, if a single of import work or a drove of art has been "shopped around," serious collectors are inclined to wonder what is incorrect with it and why it hasn't sold. Often, the end result, much similar a work which goes unsold at sale because the pre-sale estimate was as well high, is that no one wants anything to do with the artwork in question. Information technology has been "overexposed" : the trade term existence "burned," every bit in "burned bridges." For u.s., discretion is a manner of life equally well as a motto past which we run our business. We become results quickly and discreetly.

"Been There, Done That" – It May Not Exist Too Tardily: Nosotros May All the same Exist Able to Aid

If yous have a loftier quality item or entire drove and already have a less than satisfactory offer or have first-manus experience with whatsoever of the to a higher place situations, nosotros may certainly still exist willing to work on your behalf to achieve the strongest cost in today's marketplace. This would be contingent on the fact that y'all or your associates are no longer offering the item or collection directly or through other brokers, dealers or auction houses. We have often placed items which have been offered by others and have occasionally sold that item for more than than the price for which information technology had previously been offered. It is more hard to sell a piece for the best cost if photographs of the piece of work accept been circulated electronically, which today can happen in a affair of seconds!

We welcome you to contact us, so that we can candidly hash out with you lot the many options which we can offering y'all.