What is artwork consignment, exactly? Put simply, it's the professional method for reselling art that involves a collector giving their work to resale art dealers or auction houses to sell on their behalf, with the ultimate objective of making a sale.
To consign is to 'deliver something to someone'. In terms of art, it's when the owner of the artwork - the consigner - consigns (gives) their artwork to a gallery or auction house via a specialist, with the intention of putting the work up for sale.
A consignment agreement is a legal contract between a consignor and a consignee, where the consignor provides goods to the consignee for sale. It details the terms and conditions for handling, selling, and potentially returning the goods, ensuring both parties' interests are protected.
Consignment Agreement. Consignment is a more accurate term than 'sale or return', because it makes dear to both sides that the artist does not intend to sell the works to the gallery at any stage, but merely intends to leave them for sale by the gallery as artist's agent or consignee on a commission basis.
Other Potential Consignment Percentages and Fees While 60/40 is a common consignment split, you may come across other arrangements - some that work in your favor and some that work against you. Some craft artists negotiate a 70/30 split (70% for the craft artist and 30% for the retailer).
With consignment inventory, the manufacturer, wholesaler or supplier retains ownership of the goods until the retailer sells them to customers. The retailer then pays the supplier for the goods it sells and returns any items that go unsold.
In a consignment agreement, a consignor supplies goods to a consignee, who sells them on the consignor's behalf. The consignee earns a commission from each sale and sends the remaining sales revenue to the consignor. The consignor retains ownership of the goods until they are sold.
To help you get started, take a look at a few basic components to include in your contract so you can better protect your art business. Client Info. Project Info and Terms. Project Timeline. Costs and Payment Terms. Itemization. Artist's Rights. Cancellation Terms. Acceptance of Agreement.
A commission contract outlines the conditions for an artist to create a commissioned work. Contracts generally specify project dates, payment schedules, notable project requirements, or constraints. They also build out scheduled check-in points for the artist and commissioner.