advisory
Strategic counsel for collectors, family offices, estates, and institutions at every stage of a collection’s development. From a first significant acquisition to the long-term stewardship of a major collection, we bring the depth of market knowledge and expert guidance across every dimension of collecting.
advisory
Collection advisory is a fully bespoke service for private collectors, family offices, estates, and institutions seeking strategic counsel on the developent and long-term positioning of their collections. Whether building a focused collection from the ground up or refining an established one, we provide the expertise and market intelligence required to make decisions with confidence.
We advise on the identification and timing of acquisitions across the primary and secondary markets, developing a considered strategy for each client that reflects their taste, their collection, and the opportunities the market presents. Our recommendations are informed by current market conditions, art historical context, and a genuine understanding of what makes a work worth acquiring.
Knowing when and how to sell is as important as knowing what to buy. We advise on the strategic removal of works from a collection, assessing the optimal route to market, whether through private sale, auction, or donation, and managing the process with discretion and precision. Our deaccessioning counsel is always informed by a thorough understanding of current market conditions and the long-term impact on the collection as a whole.
The most significant collections are shaped by a consistent point of view, developed and refined over time. We advise on the long-term trajectory of a collection, ensuring that every decision, whether an acquisition, a sale, or a loan, serves the broader cultural and financial vision of the collector. For family offices and estates, this extends to considerations of legacy, succession, and the collection’s enduring relevance within the art world.
We provide ongoing market intelligence tailored to the specific interests and holdings of each client. This includes auction analysis, price tracking, emerging trends, and insight into where demand is moving across the categories most relevant to them. Our intelligence is drawn from direct participation in the market, not aggregated data, and it is shared with clients as a living resource rather than a periodic report.
OUR APPROACH
We work closely with each client to understand their collecting history, aesthetic interests, and long-term objectives. From there, we provide ongoing guidance on acquisition strategy, deaccessioning, and how a collection can be developed with intention over time. Our counsel draws on deep market knowledge, art historical research, and an extensive network of relationships across the primary and secondary market, always informed by both the cultural significance of the work and its position within the broader market.
We take a long-term view, positioning each collection not only for the present but for its continued relevance and value within the market. For family offices and estates, we also advise on the role of a collection within a broader wealth strategy, including considerations around legacy, succession, and philanthropic giving.
WHY ITHACA
Our advisory practice is built on a genuine understanding of collecting from the inside. Founded by collectors with deep roots in the market, we bring a perspective that is both personal and precise. We have navigated the market as buyers, as sellers, and as advisors, and that breadth of experience is what allows us to counsel clients with authority at every stage of their collecting journey. Our relationships across artists, galleries, auction houses, and private collections give us access to intelligence and opportunities that extend well beyond what the public market reveals.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our advisory service is designed for collectors at every stage, from those making their first significant acquisitions to established collectors with complex international holdings. We also work with family offices, private estates, and institutions seeking independent counsel on their collections.
Every engagement begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s collection, objectives, and long-term vision. From there, we provide ongoing counsel across acquisition strategy, deaccessioning, market intelligence, and collection positioning. The scope of each engagement is tailored to the specific needs of the client.
Yes. Deaccessioning is a core part of our advisory practice. We advise on the optimal route to market for each work, manage the process on behalf of the client, and ensure that every sale is conducted with discretion and in a manner that protects the long-term integrity of the collection.
Yes. We work regularly with family offices, private estates, and their legal and financial advisors to provide independent counsel on collection management, valuation, deaccessioning, and the role of an art collection within a broader wealth and legacy strategy.
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