Category Archives: Art Insurance

Art Insurance, Art transit Insurance, Exhibtion Art Coverage, Homeowners vs Fine ARt Policy, Liberty Mutual, USAA

Art Collection more Valuable than your Home?

I received an interesting referral from the insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual. The homeowner has insurance for his home of $350,000 but his art collection is worth $400,000. Liberty Mutual would not insure the art so they sent him to me. I also get similar referrals from insurance carriers like USAA and Geico.

His story is very typical, He is receiving an inheritance of valuable art. His short-term goal is to bring the art into his home, then possibly sell them in the future.

I explained to him the various options, Blanket Coverage, where he will have to prove the value at the time of loss, this is easy because when people die, there is an accounting of assets required from the IRS to establish death tax.

But there are cases where the tax valuation does not exist or is purposely low. For establishing current market value under a blanket policy, tax evaluation is not important but the description can be. The description can be used to help a dealer or appraiser establish the current market price.

Then I explained to him, he can insure based on Scheduled Coverage, The schedule does not have to be backed up with bills of sale or appraisals. The downside to this is he may undervalue the art.

The third option we discussed is Scheduled Coverage based on bills or appraisals, this is great for at the moment value, but can lose if the art appreciates.

I also explained that the coverage I can suggest to him, would include coverage for art transport, storage while the art is in his home and if he decides to either put the art in an exhibition or give/consign to a dealer, the insurance would follow the art in these situations.

Call us if you require coverage for your valuable collectibles.  We can custom design the right policy for your unique situation and get you properly covered quickly.

 

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Art Collector, Art transit Insurance, Claim Process, Fine Art, Uncategorized

What to ask Art Gallery/Dealer before consigning your Art

Damage to Art happens more often than is reported. How can you make sure you are covered?

American Airlines, along with seven other art handling companies, is being sued for damage to a slash sculpture by Lucio Fontana. the damage work occurred while it was being shipped to the New York Armory Show.  Lloyd’s of London was the insurer for the gallery, Marc Selwyn Fine Art.

Most art claims arise from transit damages, this is so important to make sure your current Art Insurance policy covers losses while your fine art, antiques, and collectibles are being shipped.  Most policies do not restrict the mode of transportation be it Air, Train, Boat or Truck, but they do restrict using the United Postal Service’s regular mail.

The Swiss art trading company AGB Contemporary AG consigned Concetto Spaziale (1955-60) to Marc Selwyn with a sale price of €175,000 ($196,000), according to the ArtNews newspaper. When the work was actually damaged is difficult to figure out.

The Art was packed and stored by World Freight outside of Paris, then trucked to  Charles de Gaulle airport for JFK via American Airlines flight to New York. One week later, the sculpture was transported to the Armory Show where it was uncreated and the damage discovered.

Now, this is where I find it interesting.  Lloyd’s paid Marc Selwyn Fine Art $104,250 to cover the insurance money due.  But the work was for sale for $196,000 why did Lloyds of London pay out less?  My theory has a few variables.

The Art Dealer, Marc Selwyn Fine Art policy had a valuation clause of % of sale price or a % of consignment agreement minus a deductible.  Sidebar comment: checks are made to the dealer, not the lender, which could be a problem if the dealer holds back or refuses to pay the lender, it is recommended you ask to be a loss payee on all valuable work given to dealers/galleries.

These 3 variables are important to ask if you are the collector trusting your art, to a dealer.

  1. What is your policy evaluation clause if the work is stolen or damaged? Typical dealer valuation is selling price minus 20% or 30%.
  2. What is the valuation based on Consignment? usually consigned amount plus 10%.  But what if work was double consigned? most policies are silent on this and would have to be clarified by the company or the courts.
  3. What is the deductible on the policy, $1,000, $10,000, $100,000?
  4. Are there any restrictions on the method of travel? to countries?
  5. I highly recommend the lender to be named as a loss payee on the dealer policy, in the event anything should happen to the consigned work.

Each situation is different. Circumstances and risk tolerances evolving around the” business of Art” should be explored to help mitigate losses due to the unforeseen perils in the world we live in.

William Fleischer, CIC

800-921-1008 ext 111

www.ArtInsuranceNow.com

 

Art Collector, Art Dealer, Art Gallery Insurance, Art Insurance, Art transit Insurance, Auction Houses, AXA Art, Comtemporary Art Insurance, Exhibtion Art Coverage, Fine Art, Galerest Insurance, Insurance Companies, Jewelry, Museum Coverage, Musical Intruments, Old Masters, Photogaphy Dealer Insurance, Photographs, Private Collectors and Corporate Collections, Sculpture, Transit, Travelers Insurance company, University libraries and collections

AXA Art Insurance Company

 
Good News! After 29 years in the Insurance Business, I have partnered up with   AXA and Travelers Insurance Company. We can now negotiate favorable terms and conditions with very competitive pricing. I now have the facility to insure all types and size collections, Dealers, Museums and Non-profit galleries.
If you are involved in the art world, I can insure your exposures.

• Commercial Art • Art and Antique Dealers • Restore and Conservators • Museums • Private collectors • Large or Small inventories. • Domestic or International. • Art Fair transportation, while at fair,     shipped to collectors • Art loaned to Museums or non- profits, • Art being shipped or carried on board, • Coverage for special events, Parties,     Gala’s, Dinners. • Non-profit organizations and more

There are special policies so broad that besides the standard theft or breakage coverage’s it actually includes mold and devaluation of the art pieces due to a loss. The premiums begin around $2,500 for about $250,000 worth of protection.

Recent successes:  An Art dealer who brings works to various fairs and sells from her private gallery just purchased this policy

$300,000 premises limit $300,000 unnamed location $300,000 while in transit We set the unnamed location limit and transit limit as matching limits to avoid any gaps in coverage. Premium is $3100 with $1,000 deductible.
The Genuine Article – “Total flexibility with market-leading security – the ultimate high-net-worth coverage for art and antique collectibles, buildings, and contents.”
Call me with your questions.

William G. Fleischer, CIC 212 566-1881 ext 111 wfleischer@bfbond.com

Dealer Insurance, Museum Insurance, Corporate/Private Fine Art, and Collectibles Insurance.

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Art Collector, Art transit Insurance, Auction Houses, Comtemporary Art Insurance, Fine Art

Insuring art work in transit to auction houses

Recently with all the Auction houses in full mode, I have been receiving many phone calls concerning artwork in transit.

The main movement of Art and Collectibles are going to the Auction houses. Most of the time, Individual’s would send the auction house information about the work, and if acceptable, the burden of insurance falls on the collector to get the work to the Auction house.

Most collectors who sell through auction houses, don’t think about coverage while it is at the Auction house.  Many Auction houses charge very high rates for this coverage , which in many circumstances are included in my design of the policy.

Granted, you can buy a one-way art or collectibles transit policy that stops once the work is received, or you can think beyond and purchase a policy which at times include insurance coverage while shipping to Auction Houses, Galleries, Storage, and framers.

Complete my form for collectors, and let’s figure out an Art Insurance program which fits your style.

William G. Fleischer, CIC

www.ArtInsuranceNow.com

Art Collector, Art Insurance, Artist Insurance, Comtemporary Art Insurance, Fine Art, Jewelry, Photographs, Private Collectors and Corporate Collections

Use UCC filings when you Cosign your Art to a Dealer.

Recently, while I was discussing art with an attorney, UCC filings came up.   Usually, this is filed when you take out a business or personal loans and the lender to protect its collateral files the UCC with the state.

It’s an inexpensive file, which is used to notify the state you are a lender and have claim to the object corresponding to the UCC.

So I always tell everyone when you lend for sale your Art, to always have an expiration of consignment, in case the other party gets in financial difficulties the asset reverts to you at the end of the consignment date.

But now adding the UCC you attach yourself to the asset so any court can recognize you are in line to be paid if the art is sold.

An interesting layer of protection from an unstable partnership.

 

William

www.artinsurancenow.com

Antique, Art Collector, Art Insurance, Insurance Companies, Zurich Private Clients

Art and Antiques Specialist Risk Management Advice

Because I am always receiving all sorts of art related information I have decided to share some excerpts.

This is from a Zurich informational flyer.  Its a helpful flyer breaking down various aspect’s, like:

Understand how to Assess the risk, climate control for fine arts and Antiques,  placement of rugs and carpets away from fireplaces. The flyer gets into special care for paintings, moving art, security advice and professional valuations and photographs.   it’s worth a quick read.

Click here for an application to insure your Art and antiques.

William G. Fleischer, CIC

President

29 Broadway, Suite 1511

New York NY 10006

212 566-1881 ext. 111

Email: wfleischer@bfbond.com

www.ArtInsuranceNow.com

Art Insurance

Informative WSJ Article features William Fleischer of ArtInsuranceNow.com

By

Daniel Grant

When you buy a piece of art, can you be sure it’s really yours? Many collectors don’t always feel certain on that score. They worry in some cases that after they make a purchase someone will show up, maybe years later, and claim the art was stolen at some point in the past—ultimately leaving the new owner empty-handed, without the art or the money paid for it.

That’s one reason many art advisers and lawyers recommend title insurance, which can at least partially protect a collector’s financial interests if a piece of art has to be surrendered. But theft isn’t the only issue. Title insurance also can help protect collectors if the person they bought art from becomes entangled in divorce, bankruptcy, probate or other legal proceedings that question the seller’s right to dispose of the art.

 

Some advisers say title insurance is particularly important because of the sharp increase in the prices of many artworks in recent years—buyers have more to lose. But title insurance has been a hard sell.

William Fleischer, president of insurance brokerage firm Bernard Fleischer & Sons Inc., says most collectors are willing to forgo the cost, in part because many already have paid advisers and lawyers to check on the authenticity and history of ownership of their art, and they have confidence in those experts.

For those who want additional reassurance, some insurance companies offer “defense of title” coverage, which typically pays up to $100,000 in legal costs in the event of a title dispute but doesn’t reimburse policyholders for the value of any objects taken away from them.

The leading provider of more-complete coverage is New York-based ARIS Title Insurance Corp., a unit of Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. It offers policies that cover legal costs in the event of a title dispute and the full purchase price of the piece if the buyer has to surrender the work. Collectors pay a one-time premium averaging 2% to 3% of the purchase price of the item being insured. They can increase coverage, for an additional premium, if the artwork’s value appreciates.

Mr. Grant is a writer living in Amherst, Mass. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com.

Original Article link below.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/art-collectors-weigh-title-insurance-1428894124

 

Art transit Insurance, Artist Insurance, Comtemporary Art Insurance, Exhibtion Art Coverage

How to evaluate your own work as an artist

Since my Launch of an Artist’s Insurance website: I have had numerous conversations regarding “How an Insurance Company evaluates Art.”

The policy evaluation is straightforward. Sales price minus 30%.

This is a simple formula if you have a track record of sales.  Where the conversation turns, is when the artist is new to the market.  I say this because I have worked with artists who, at various ages and experience are now, entering group shows and exhibitions.

A seasoned artist knows the consignment agreement or the exhibition agreement requires the artist to place a value of their Artwork in the form, but for the neophyte, this is where the “tire hits the Road” or the “paint hits the canvas” and takes the discussion deeper.

So what are the methods of pricing one’s own work, and will the insurance company accept the sale price of an artist, who never sold?

This is how I approach the question.

First, everything has a value.  Fundamentally;  material, time, education, experience, teachers, demographics, size shape, media, subject, along with time spent, researching and actually producing the work. etc…

Of course, the Artist understands this, but what is the valuation sale price, I tell them to just make up a reasonable sale price using the fundamentals as your guiding denominator. Usually, they are within range and the Insurance does not dispute and pay the claim.

In the policy form, it is up to the Artist to prove what the value of sales, so if they put an unrealistic sale price on the work, the insurance company using similar methods will determine the sale price is way over inflated.  At this juncture, an independent third party will then appraise the work and the valuation will be established, and the claim would be paid out accordingly.

Bottom line, price your work based on the merits of your talent and experience with keeping the ego in check.

New Artist Insurance Program custom designed for the serious Artist.

 

Limits start at $100,000

 

  • Exhibition
  • Transit,
  • Studio
  • Storage
  • Worldwide Coverage
  • Includes Material and commissioned work in progress
  • Visit artinsurancenow.com for all your Art insurance

 

Premiums start at $1000

 

Kindly help me get the word out by passing this along

 

Thank You

 

William

William G. Fleischer, CIC
President
29 Broadway, Suite 1511
New York NY 10006
T. 212 566-1881 ext 111
F. 212 566-1615
C. 917 863-8787
wfleischer@bfbond.com
www.BFbond.com
www.ArtInsuranceNow.com

Action Figures, Advertising Memorabilia, American Collectors Insurance, Animation Art, Antique, Antique Cars, Antique Furniture Dealers, Art Collector, Art Glass, Art transit Insurance, Bad weather and Art, what to do!, Books and Maps, Brass Antiques, coins, Coins and Bullion, Collectable dinnerware/stemware, Collectibles, Collector Plates, Collectors quilt, Comic Books, Comtemporary Art Insurance, Die Cast, Dolls, Figurines, Fine Art, Guns, Homeowners vs Fine ARt Policy, Jukeboxes, Militaria, Model Trains and Sets, Ornaments, Photographs, Pottery, Prints, Rare Books, Sculpture, Sports Memorabilia, Stamps, Stamps, Teddy Bears, Trading Cards, Wood Antiques

How is your Art being Insured?

Every day, I am helping to insure art collections.  art collections, Gun Collections, Rug Collections, Rare Books Collection, Prehistoric Art collections, Samurai Swords, Bibles,

In the past few days, I have insured rare books, Bibles, Photographs, Manuscripts Antique guns, and furniture. click here for applications

Your homeowner’s policy excludes perils like Roof leaking, wind-driven rain, back up of sewers and drains, Breakage, transit Loss of Value due to a loss.

Most fine art policies have these coverages included. If there is something which is valuable to you and your family, I can insure it.

Call Me 800-921-1008

William G. Fleischer, CIC
President
29 Broadway, Suite 1511
New York NY 10006
T. 212 566-1881 ext 111
F. 212 566-1615
wfleischer@bfbond.com
www.ArtInsuranceNow.com

Art Dealer, Artist Insurance, Exhibtion Art Coverage

Exhibition Policy or not?

Email regarding having Artist shows in an Office Environment.

I am an attorney, however, I put an art gallery in my law firm space. The agreement I have with the artists is that they allow me to hang their work for 3 to 4 weeks. I promote their work to my clients and throw a party in the artist’s honor, where the artists agree to be present and talk about art.

We serve some refreshments and invite everyone we see. There is no charge to the artist. I do not pay the artists. I do not sell art. There is no charge to the people who attend. It is a community event intended to bring a little culture to our small town and, admittedly, let people know where my office is without in-your-face law office marketing.

The rules in Iowa are the strictest in the country about regulating attorney advertising. I cannot hand someone a business card and say, “hi. I’m a lawyer. What can I do for you?” But, I can hand someone a party invitation flyer and say, “Hi, please come to my law firm’s gallery party and meet some cool artists, see some great art, listen to some inspiring music, and have a little wine and yummy appetizers. It’s so much fun!” I know. Crazy stupid.

When the party is over, the artists take their work away and three or four new artists bring in work to hang, and we do it all over again. My 4th party is November 14, 2014.

The artists for this party are asking if I have insurance to cover the art in the case of fire, vandalism, or theft. My insurance guy is not helpful. He says I have no insurable interest, so I cannot insure them with the exception that if I trip over them, my liability insurance might cover it. Lame.

The artist could sue me if something were to happen to their paintings while in my control. I do have an insurable interest, at least while they are in my custody and control.

Can you assist me in finding a way to obtain insurance or a bond of some type that will protect me in the case that something unthinkable would happen to these paintings?

Thank you,
Warmest regards,

The Answer… or my Answer.

When I further inquired I found the Artist work was hung without any paperwork. Interesting.

1. If the work was Loan during the show to the office, it may be covered under the office BOP policy, usually, there is $25,000 limit for Fine Art.

2. A dealer art insurance policy could be bought, for $150,000 on location limit, $30,000 Art Transit and $30,000 at unnamed locations.

3. Have the Artist buy their own Artist Insurance policy. $100,000 of Art Insurance while in transit, in the studio and while at Exhibitions for an annual price of $1,000.00.

4. Explain to the Artist,  it’s a business risk and art is a risky business.  The odds are higher of damaged or stolen while in transit, and less than their work in the studio, at lease your office is alarmed or locked 🙂

She explained to me even though a hold harmless could be drawn up and signed, there was still the exposure of a negligence lawsuit by the artist. So here is the question to ponder, buy insurance and not worry or understand it is a business risk you are taking verse the benefit of letting the people know your law office exists.