Sell your art · Florida
Sell Your Art Collection in Florida
A clear value and a plan for selling a collection or estate art: the right mix of auction, consignment and private sale, with no pressure.
Selling a collection means a series of decisions
Which works go to a major auction house, and which to a regional sale, a private buyer or consignment? What sells now, and what should wait? Answer these in the wrong order and a collection can leave real money behind. I help Florida families, estates and collectors work through them in the right sequence.
I consult with executors, trustees, attorneys and families on liquidation planning and orderly sales through private sale, leading auction houses or a mix of channels. My work includes brokering the complete collection of Lou Pritchett, former President of Procter & Gamble, and placing masterworks from the Eli Wilner collection.
What you get
- A clear review: what you have, what matters and what is mainly sentimental
- Value ranges grounded in comparable sales, not hopeful asking prices
- A venue plan: which works go to which auction house, buyer or consignment, and why
- Timing advice: sale calendars and market conditions for each artist
- Hands-on management of consignments, shipping and private-sale negotiation
Who I help
- Families selling inherited art or downsizing a Florida home
- Executors and trustees responsible for realizing fair value
- Collectors refining or deaccessioning part of a collection
- Institutions planning deaccessions
Discretion from start to finish
Many sellers prefer that their collection not be publicized. I arrange private sales with buyer or seller representation, private introductions, and guidance on timing, presentation and negotiation. When public auction is the stronger route, I prepare and place the consignments with the houses best suited to the property.
Process
How selling a collection works
Send photos
Upload photos of the front, back, signature and any labels or paperwork. A phone camera is fine.
Learn what you have
I tell you what the work is, what comparable pieces have sold for, and whether selling makes sense.
Choose a route
Auction, consignment or private sale. You get a recommendation on venue, timing and likely net.
Sell with support
I manage the consignment or private sale and keep you informed through to payment.
Credentials
A record with important collections
I research and write every appraisal myself.
- ISA memberMember of the International Society of Appraisers
- USPAP-compliantReports follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
- 15+ yearsIn the international fine art market, with thousands of works appraised
- Florida-wideBased in Sarasota and serving collectors across the state
Selected engagements
- Brokered the complete collection of Lou Pritchett, former President of Procter & Gamble
- Placed masterworks from the Eli Wilner collection
- Sold the Estate of William Ten Eyck, CFO of Pontiac
- Handled key deaccessions from the Appleton Museum collection
FAQ
Selling a collection: questions
Is it better to sell a collection at auction or privately?
It depends on the works. Auction can create competition for in-demand artists. A private sale can be faster and more discreet for important pieces. Consignment suits works that sell best given time and the right buyer. Most collections do best with a mix, and I build that plan with you.
Do you buy collections outright?
[CONFIRM: does Austin purchase outright, or only advise, broker and consign?]
How are you paid when helping me sell?
Sales advisory fees are quoted upon request, based on the scope of the assignment. I disclose any fee and any potential conflict of interest in writing before you commit.
Do I need an appraisal before selling?
Not necessarily. A sale review focuses on realistic selling prices and the best venue. A formal appraisal helps if you also need values for an estate, insurance or tax.
Can you handle an entire house of art and objects?
I can advise on the art and the significant decorative works, and plan an orderly sale through the right venues, working with executors, trustees and family. [CONFIRM scope for general household contents]
What if some pieces have little value?
I will tell you plainly. Not everything belongs at auction, and knowing early saves time and fees.
Thinking about selling?
Start with photos. I will tell you what you have and the best way to sell it.