Art consignment: 13 important tips (and the right questions to ask) Attend a few sales. Before you enter a consignment agreement, document. Know the season you're selling in, and sell what's in demand. Choose an auction house: ask key questions. Follow drop-off rules. Ask about reserve prices.
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.
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.
It is very important to have all the documentation relating to your artwork to hand, including artist provenance, previous sales history and any exhibition history. Clear and complete records not only simplify the consignment process but also verify authenticity for potential buyers, a key factor in maximising value.
Today, Artsper invites you to explore the 5 key factors which determine the monetary value of a painting. The notoriety of the artist. The painting's dimensions. The physical condition of a painting. The historical significance of the painting. The market's demand for the painting.
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.