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Expert advice
When do I need advice?
In order to buy an object with confidence (see Learn More) you may need advice before purchase; this might be from dealers, auction houses, conservators, a museum, library or archive or a trade association.
Who will give me information on reputable dealers?
Most reputable dealers in art, antiques and antiquities will be a member of a professional trade association. Members of trade associations are required to sign a code of ethics, conduct or principles (see Code of ethics). Codes of practice make it clear that dealers should not knowingly purchase, hold or attempt to sell stolen material. On the rare occasion that things go wrong many professional associations offer an independent arbitration service.
When buying a cultural object, however small in value, it is sensible to check that the dealer is a member of a professional trade association (see Factsheet Professional trade associations). A quick way to do this is to see if they have the symbol displayed in their window, within their shop, or on their trade fair stand.
What should a dealer be able to tell me about an item?
Dealers and auction houses are experts in their field and will be able to provide you with a good deal of information on the object you are thinking about buying. Checklists Buying with confidence, Due diligence processes and Acceptable evidence will advise you further on what questions to ask and what should be provided by a dealer. Checklist Online sources provides guidance on what to look for when buying from an on-line source where extra caution must be taken.
Which organisations provide information on stolen art?
A number of organisations exist to record objects which have been reported stolen or missing. This helps a private buyer in two ways. It is a means of checking whether or not an item has been previously reported lost or stolen; and, together with standard police reporting, it is a way of recording any items you have lost or had stolen so that they can potentially be traced and returned to you. Some databases of stolen property also allow you to record items in your collection so that if they are stolen they can be immediately identified as such. A list of those providing these services is given in Factsheet Databases of stolen art.
Who else can help?
Conservators and restorers can also provide you with information on an item's history. Further information on conservators can be found through the Conservation Register. The pages in Collections Link on Taking Care of Security and Conserving Objects are also useful in this context.
