Services to Collectors

Collecting is first and foremost a passion affair. All collectors have at one time or another, experienced this intense thrill that overruns yourself at the sight of a particular piece of art; that moment of ultimate exaltation that accompanies the acquisition of this artwork without which "you could not survive!"

The purpose of this section is to provide you with tools and resources that will enable you to live your passion and doing so, to optimize your "collector experience" in order to make the most it.

This page consists of three (3) sections.

1. The first section "Good addresses" presents a selection of companies, organizations or individuals offering services that may be useful if not indispensable for collectors. The services are presented by categories and, whenever possible, an online form allows you to reach by email one or more of the identified suppliers to get a quote, make a request for information, etc. for the concerned service.
2. The second section entitled "The support tools" allows you to access a set of tools that can support you in your research, management of your collections or decision-making.

Most of these tools have been developed by us. When an external contribution is significant, it is systematically reported.

3. A third section, "Expert advice", brings together a large span of information gathered from the consultation of texts by renowned authors in visual arts.
4. Finally, a last section, "Others", gathers various informations including an important section dedicated to the art of color illustration with pochoir, a technique of color reproduction which knew its hour of glory in the last century.

This section ends with a list of books on the art markets for most of them still available and whose consultation with some of them have been the backbone of this research.

Good addresses

• Companies or individuals offering framing services
• Companies specializing in the transport of works of art (including or not crating, insurance, duty formalities and storage)
• Companies offering home art insurance services
• Individuals and organizations specialized in restoration of works of art
• Individuals and companies offering to produce an estimate of the market value of your works of art after the submission of an online summary dossier
• Individuals and firms providing appraisal services of your works of art
• Individuals and organizations offering their services as Art Advisors
• Companies publishing or maintaining databases of auction results, allowing you to establish the MVR of your works
• Groupings or associations of art collectors
• The must-read  art journals/magazine for Canadian collectors
• Key websites for current information on the visual arts
• Directory of companies or individuals active in the sale of works of art in Canada
• The auction houses in Canada and internationally
• The alerts services for artists whose works will soon be offered at auction

Search a service provider

The support tools

• The research tools in visual arts (research guides, databases, etc.)
• Provenance/authentication: where to check?
• What to do in case of theft of your works of art?
• Dispose of an Artwork: Give or Sell?
• Maintaining an inventory of my collection: what are the tools available?
• Utilities
  • The terminology of visual arts
  • Artistic movements, periods, artists and schools through the ages
  • Best mobile apps for the art collector
  • Canadian visual arts awards (in preparation)
• Tips and tricks
  • You are interested in a work of art but the price leaves you puzzled? Produce a credible counteroffer.
• Our simulators
  • Potential tax impact of the gift of a work of art in Canada under various assumptions
  • The cost associated with a buy/sell transaction at auction
    • How much can I expect from the sale of my artwork at auction?
    • How much will it cost to acquire a work at auction?
    • How much should I sell a work at auction if I expect to recoup the equivalent of my total cost of acquisition?
    • How to return to the "hammer price" from the displayed sale price?
• Visual Arts News in Canada

​To subscribe, click on "Follow".  Includes collections on the following themes:

• ​Current and upcoming art exhibitions in Canada
• Canadian artists in the news
• Prizes and awards earned by our artists
• Current or upcoming auctions in Canada
• Museum news in Canada
• Generic information on visual arts in Canada

Expert advice

A collection of texts by experts relevant to the following categories:

• Asian Art (Expert tips relevant to fine art produced from the ancient time to today in China and Japan)
• Auction (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with the auction world)
• Books & Manuscripts (Expert tips relevant to books and manuscripts)
• Classical Antiquity (Expert tips relevant to fine art produced during the classical period (800BC-500AD))
• Fine Art (A large category including any advice associated with fine arts in general, excluding any specific period (Classical antiquity, Old Masters, etc.) or special thematic (Fine Art & the Internet, etc.)
• Fine Art - Caring (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with the handling and care of an art collection or a piece of art)
  • Generalities (Expert texts associated with the management of collections or works of art, with the exception of the following specific topics)
  • Framing of your Works (Expert advice associated with the framing of your works, importance and rules to respect)
  • Inventory management of your collection (Expert texts associated with systematic inventory management of your collection)
  • Lightning Art (Expert texts relevant to everything associated with the preservation and illumination of your collection)
  • Taking care of your artwork or collection (Expert advice on the maintenance and care of your artworks or collection to maintain their condition and value)
  • The presentation of your collection, including hanging, layout, etc. (Expert advice associated with the physical presentation of your works in order to obtain an optimal visual benefit)
  • The Insurance of your Artworks (Expert advice associated with suggested/necessary coverage to protect your collection from theft, fire, etc.
• Fine Art For Beginners (Tips and pieces of advice to the beginning collector)
• Furniture & Decorative Arts (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with furniture and decoratives art)
• General Advice to Collectors (Expert tips relevant to all collectors of all categories)
• Handbags & Accessories (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with handbags and accessories (scarf, gloves, etc.), including buying and care)
• Internet and the Collector (Expert texts relevant to everything associated with the purchase/sale of collectible items on the Internet)
• Jewelry (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with jewelry including buying and care)
• Old Masters (Expert tips relevant to mostly painting produced from 1400 to 1800)
• Photographs & Prints (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with photographs and multiple, mostly prints)
• Pop Culture & Collectibles (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with the collection of items of popular interest that is not fine art)
• Post-War & Contemporary Art (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with fine art produced after 1945)
• Watches/Clocks (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with the collection and caring of watches and clocks)
• Wines  & Spirits (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with the collection and caring of wines)
• World Art (Expert tips relevant to anything associated with the collection of art that is not of Western or Asian origin)

Others

• The art of pochoir illumination

  • The Art of Pochoir Illumination: the Luxury of a Gone Era (Also available in PDF format)
  • The Art of Pochoir Illumination: Available Resources on Internet (Also available in PDF format)

• Le collectionneur et le marché de l'art: lectures d'appoint