Harry Callahan, Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 1959

Harry Callahan — Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 1959

Sell With Ithaca

Consignments

Entrust a work to Ithaca for a considered, actively managed sale, represented with the care and reach of an institution.

Inquire to Consign

Overview

Your work, actively represented and thoughtfully positioned.

Consigning a work to Ithaca means placing it in the hands of a team that will represent it with the same rigor an institution brings to its own collection. We define the right audience, the right moment, and the right channel, whether a private placement or a broader offering, and manage the process end to end, from valuation and condition to marketing and final settlement.

The Process

How It Works

Inquire

Provide details and images of the artwork through our confidential submission form.

Review

Each submission is reviewed in confidence by our advisory team, with reference to current market conditions, comparable works, and institutional context.

Guidance

A member of our team will be in touch within 24–48 hours with a preliminary valuation, together with guidance on consignment strategy and next steps.

The Art of Collecting

Every work, championed.

Every consignment begins with a thorough understanding of the work, its provenance, condition, and position within the current market. We assess each piece individually, drawing on current market data, comparable sales, and our knowledge of active collector demand to develop a placement strategy tailored to its specific character and the objectives of its owner. Introductions are made selectively and strategically, guided always by the specific needs of each work and client objectives.

For clients considering consignment, the submission process provides a confidential and informed first step toward understanding market potential and possible avenues for sale.

Irving Penn — Hell’s Angels, San Francisco, 1967

Louis Stettner — Windshield, Saratoga Springs, New York, 1957

Behind Every Placement

A collector’s perspective.

The auction room is not always the right room. A public sale sets a price in front of the entire market, and if a work does not sell, that becomes part of its history. Private consignment removes that risk, returning control over pricing, timing, and exposure. All correspondence and introductions are handled with complete discretion. Works are placed selectively and with purpose, directed toward the collectors and institutions best positioned to receive them.

We bring a collector’s perspective to every consignment. Our understanding of the market is not theoretical. It is built from years of active participation at the highest level, across photography, modern, post-war, and contemporary art, giving us a precise sense of where demand exists, when conditions favor a sale, and how best to position a work on behalf of its owner.

Frequently Asked

Questions about consignment

A consignment is an arrangement in which you entrust a work to us to sell on your behalf. You retain ownership of the piece until a sale is completed. We manage the placement process, including market positioning, introductions to prospective buyers, and negotiation, in exchange for an agreed commission on the final sale price. All terms are set out clearly in a written consignment agreement before anything proceeds.

We advise on photography, modern, post-war, and contemporary art from the defining periods of the 20th and 21st centuries, with particular depth in blue-chip photography and fine art with strong secondary market histories.

Timelines vary depending on the work, current market conditions, and the objectives of the client. We discuss timing and strategy with every client at the outset and keep you informed throughout the process.

Commission structures are agreed upon individually and outlined clearly in a written consignment agreement before we proceed. All terms are discussed transparently at the start of every engagement.

This depends entirely on the work, the market, and your objectives as a consignor. We advise on the right level of exposure for each consignment, whether that means targeted private introductions, measured broader exposure, or a combination of both.

Completely. All submissions and correspondence are handled in strict confidence at every stage of the process.

Considering a Sale?

Begin a confidential conversation

Provide details and images of the work through our confidential submission form. A member of our advisory team will respond within 24–48 hours.

Inquire to Consign

info@galleryithaca.com · +1 917 890 2964