Five questions to ask before you buy a piece of art

1. Provenance

Who has owned the piece, and is the chain of custody documented? Gaps are common, but they should be explained.

2. Condition

Ask for a recent condition report. Restoration disclosed up-front is fine; restoration discovered after purchase is not.

3. Edition

For prints and multiples: number, total run, printer, and whether artist-signed.

4. Market

What have comparable works sold for in the last 24 months? OBJAIS pulls public auction comps automatically.

5. Insurability

Would a specialty carrier agree to cover the piece at the price you're paying? If the answer is no, that's a signal not to ignore.

As an insurance broker, Objais can submit your file to one or more specialty insurers. Our AI estimate of your insurance premium is indicative and non-binding. We will be able to offer you a binding quote and insure you once the insurance company has validated your complete file.