You buy a work to keep it. Then you move, you inherit, your life changes, or simply your taste. Reselling is neither a failure nor a betrayal: it is the moment a work changes hands, and it is better approached prepared.
This guide covers the five possible channels, what they really cost, and what makes the difference in price.
First of all, the papers
This is the first lever, and it is free. At equal quality, two identical works do not sell for the same price depending on what comes with them.
Gather four things. The original invoice, naming the artist, the title, the dimensions and the price paid. The certificate of authenticity if there is one, bearing in mind that not every artist issues one. The documented record of the work, with the year, the material and its history. And the chain of owners since the studio, however short.
Together these are called provenance. That word decides whether a buyer trusts you or negotiates.
The five channels, plainly
The agent or gallery representing the artist. The most effective channel for a living artist, because the buyer is already there. The commission generally sits between twenty-five and thirty-five per cent, and the timescale depends on demand. We set out the mechanics in an artist’s agent commission.
Auction. Visible, quick within the calendar, but it charges on both sides: seller’s commission and buyer’s premium, often twenty to thirty per cent added to the price. A work that fails to sell in the room is then harder to place: that is the risk of this channel.
General online platforms. Easy to access, weak on support. Competition is immense and the price is always negotiated downwards. They suit small formats.
Direct sale between private individuals. No fees, no resale right, but everything rests on you: the description, the trust, the payment, the packing, the transport and any dispute. For a heavy piece, shipping is the real obstacle.
Sale or return in a gallery. The work stays on show until it sells, the commission is comparable to a gallery’s, and your piece sometimes sleeps a long time in a store room.
What you will actually receive
An example with figures, on a work resold for three thousand euros.
At auction: seller’s commission of twenty per cent, six hundred euros, plus the resale right of four per cent, one hundred and twenty euros, at your expense. You receive about two thousand two hundred and eighty euros, and the buyer will have paid about three thousand seven hundred including fees.
Through an agent at thirty per cent: nine hundred euros of commission, one hundred and twenty euros of resale right. You receive about one thousand nine hundred and eighty euros, and the buyer pays three thousand.
Directly between individuals: you receive three thousand euros, with no resale right, but you carry everything, and you find the buyer yourself, which on average takes far longer.
So the right channel is not the one that charges least, it is the one that finds the buyer.
The resale right, in two lines
Above 750 euros, as soon as a professional is involved, four per cent of the price goes to the artist on the first band. It is borne by the seller, never by the buyer. It is all explained in the article on the resale right.
The mistakes that cost money
Restoring before selling. A patina cleaned aggressively, a piece repainted, a base replaced: the value falls, often a lot. Touch nothing without asking the artist or the agent.
Photographing badly. A cluttered background, yellow light, a crooked frame: the piece looks worse than it is. Four photographs in natural light against a neutral background are worth more than a ten per cent discount.
Asking a dream price. An overpriced work stays online for months, and a listing that lingers starts to look suspect. Better to start right.
Accepting a flattering valuation that comes with fees. The mechanism is always the same: you are quoted a high price, you pay a listing fee, and nothing sells. A professional is paid on the sale.
Selling in a hurry. That is the only variable you really control. Three months of patience are often worth twenty per cent of price.
How we proceed
For a work by either of the two artists we represent, write to us. We identify the piece in our catalogue, we give you a range and say which value it is, and we tell you frankly whether we can place it again and on what terms. The method is described in having a sculpture valued.
If we cannot, we say so as well. We take no joining fee, and we charge nothing until something sells.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to resell a sculpture? Allow three to twelve months for a living artist’s piece in a normal market. Very short timescales are paid for in price.
Can I resell a work bought a month ago? Yes, nothing prevents it. Just be aware that an immediate resale above the purchase price is rare, and that a buyer who sees the same piece twice in quick succession starts asking questions.
Do I have to declare the sale? For a private individual, the disposal of works of art falls under a specific tax regime, with an exemption threshold and a choice between two methods. Take advice: we are not tax advisers and we do not give an opinion on this.
What if the artist has died? The resale right remains due for seventy years, for the benefit of the heirs. And provenance becomes even more decisive, since nobody can authenticate any more.
And if I have lost the certificate? While the artist is alive and the piece identifiable, a duplicate is often possible. Afterwards it becomes complicated. That is why we advise photographing every document on arrival.