Sebastien & Ida Bush

Q:     What's a 50-50 Art Auction Partnership?
A:     It's a deal where we purchase your American (and European) work for top dollar based mostly on present auction prices.  We then put your art up at public auction and break up the revenue with you 50-50.  The value we pay you is yours to maintain, it doesn't matter what occurs at auction. We have been in the art auction enterprise for 30 years.

Q:    Who else presents this deal?

A:     As far as we know, no one else on this planet presents this deal.

Q:    What's the difference between a 50-50 art public sale partnership and a cash advance?

A:     A money advance is where somebody lends you cash primarily based on the anticipated sale of your art.  When you get a money advance of $5,000 and your painting does not sell at auction, you have to return the cash advance (with curiosity).  You might also must pay for insurance, images and transportation costs.  When we offer you a 50-50 artwork auction partnership, we purchase your artwork outright, as companions, to promote at auction.  We take all of the risks, including the possibility that your painting could not promote at public sale, or may promote for less than we expected.  The money we pay you up front is at all times yours to keep.  No interest.  No hidden expenses.  

Q:  What kind of art do you purchase?

A:    We pay top dollar for authentic oil work and watercolors by "listed" 19th and 20th Century artists with auction records.  We do not buy prints, reproductions or limited editions.  As a rule, we do not purchase artwork by dwelling artists unless the artist has a observe record at auction.  We prefer to purchase artwork in unique condition.  If needed we may have your portray cleaned, restored and re-framed, at our threat and expense, and cut up these prices with you after it sells at auction.

Q:    Inform me precisely how this works.  How can I promote my artwork to you for cash, and then sell it again at auction?

A:     It is quite simple, really.  First, we expertly appraise your artwork (primarily based on present public sale costs) as a way to offer you a good price.  Second, we purchase your art for cash.  Third, though we now "own" your artwork, we stay partners with you.  Your artwork is then consigned to an public sale (like Sotheby's or Christie's) for public sale.  Hopefully, your art will promote for more than we paid you.  If it does, you obtain 50% of something above what we have now paid you, and we obtain the opposite 50%.  This can be a very reasonable deal for both parties.

Q:     Suppose I sell you a painting for $10,000 and it then sells at auction for $15,000.  How a lot do I obtain?

A:     If the "hammer price" is $15,000, let's assume we pay a 10% seller's fee.  Deducting $1,500 from $15,000 = $13,500.  That is $3,500 greater than we paid you.  So after we get paid by the public sale home, you receive a test for $1,750 and we maintain $1,750 as our commission. The overall quantity you obtain could be $eleven,750.  

Q:   What is a "Buyer's Charge" ?

A:  When you consign a painting to auction, the auction house adds a "Buyer's Payment" (often 20%) to the "hammer price."  So, if the highest bid in the room is $10,000, that person is really paying $12,000.  The auction home keeps the complete Buyer's Price for itself.  The vendor (you and us) receives only the hammer price, less a seller's commission, normally 10%, which may be negotiable on very excessive worth art.

Q:     Do public sale houses cost any additional charges?

A:     Yes.  Some auction houses will charge the vendor an insurance payment, in addition to a fee for catalog photography. All public sale fees are cut up 50-50 between you and us.


Q:    Do paintings at all times sell for a profit at public sale?

A:    No.  But if they are accurately estimated, and positioned in the best auction sale, paintings usually do very well.  In general, you'll do better promoting at public sale than promoting outright.  Within the unlikely event that your painting sells for a loss at auction, it's our loss, not yours.  We by no means ask for any money back.  Our buying prices are based mostly on the "probably" selling price at public sale, which is often known as a "Pre-Sale Estimate."  

Q:    Which public sale houses do you utilize?

A:     We recommend and use Sotheby's, Christies, Heritage, Freemans, Skinners, Doyles, John Moran, and lots of different respectable auction houses.  We will discuss with you which ones auction home we recommend for your particular works of art.  We select the appropriate auction house for each painting based on particular results, as well as promotional concerns (advertising and press releases.)