Questions to Ask Before Paying for an Artwork

Good questions turn a sales conversation into a durable purchase record. The goal is not to interrogate the seller; it is to make sure both parties mean the same thing.

• Who is the seller of record, and do they own or have authority to sell the work?
• What exactly is included: artwork, frame, hardware, certificate, packing, and installation?
• What is the current condition and what restoration or damage is known?
• What is the complete delivered cost and payment schedule?
• What happens if the work is delayed, damaged, materially different, or not accepted?

Answers should be reflected in the invoice or written terms. Verbal assurances are difficult to use later.

Check an artwork to organize public evidence about a specific listing. The tool provides research context, not authentication or appraisal.