PRIVATE SALES + CONSIGNMENTS
Two distinct but closely related routes to market, both defined by the same commitment to discretion, expertise, and outcomes that serve the work as much as the client.
PRIVATE SALES AND CONSIGNMENTS
Private sales and consignments represent two distinct but closely related routes to market, both defined by the same commitment to discretion, expertise, and outcomes that serve the work as much as the client. Whether acquiring a specific work, placing a significant piece privately, or bringing a consignment to market through a measured and considered strategy, every engagement is handled personally and with a deep understanding of current conditions, collector demand, and the long-term integrity of the transaction.
PRIVATE SALES | CONSIGNMENTS
We introduce exceptional works to the collectors and institutions best positioned to receive them, through direct relationships built over years of active market participation. Every placement is made selectively and with intention, informed by a thorough understanding of the work, current market conditions, and the objectives of its owner.
Every consignment requires a considered approach to timing, positioning, and market exposure. We develop a tailored strategy for each consignment engagement, advising on the most effective route to market, the appropriate level of exposure, and the conditions most likely to produce the best outcome for the work and its owner.
We source specific works on behalf of buyers with defined collecting goals, drawing on direct relationships across galleries, auction houses, private collections, and estates to identify opportunities that are not always publicly available. Every sourcing engagement is conducted with complete discretion and with a precise understanding of what the client is looking for and why.
Positioning a work correctly is as important as finding the right buyer. We advise on pricing strategy for every private sale and consignment engagement, drawing on current market data, recent comparable sales, and our understanding of active collector demand to establish a price that reflects the true value of the work and the conditions most likely to produce the best outcome for its owner.
OUR APPROACH
We work closely with each client to understand their objectives, the nature of the work, and the conditions most likely to produce the right outcome. For private sales, introductions are made selectively and with purpose, directed toward the collectors and institutions best positioned to receive them. For consignments, placement strategies are developed with careful consideration given to timing, positioning, and the broader context in which each work is introduced. In both cases, market exposure is calibrated precisely to the objectives of the client rather than pursued broadly.
We take a long-term view, advising not only on the immediate transaction but on how each decision sits within the broader arc of a collection. For family offices, estates, and institutional clients, this extends to considerations of legacy, succession, and the continued relevance of a collection within the market over time.
WHY ITHACA
We have operated on both sides of the market, as collectors and as advisors, and that dual perspective is the foundation of everything we do. Our understanding of what motivates serious buyers and what matters most to sellers is not theoretical. It is built from years of genuine participation at the highest levels of the primary and secondary market, across photography, modern, post-war, and contemporary art. The relationships we bring to every private sale and consignment are earned, and they exist solely in service of achieving the best possible outcome for our clients.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In a private sale we work to identify and introduce a specific buyer for your work through our network. In a consignment we take on broader responsibility for bringing the work to market over an agreed period. Both routes are handled with complete discretion. We advise on which approach best serves the work and the objectives of the seller.
Pricing is established in consultation with the seller, informed by current market data, recent auction results, comparable private sales, and our understanding of active collector demand. We advise on positioning and provide complete transparency throughout the process.
Timelines vary depending on the work, current market conditions, and the objectives of the client. We discuss timing and strategy at the outset of every engagement and keep clients informed throughout the process.
Yes. We advise buyers and sellers with equal commitment. For buyers, we source specific works and advise on acquisitions that serve longer-term collecting goals, drawing on our network to identify opportunities that are not always publicly available.
This depends entirely on the work, the market, and your objectives. We advise on the right level of exposure for each engagement, whether that means targeted private introductions, measured broader exposure, or a combination of both.
Yes. Private sale is often the preferred route for works with auction histories, as it removes the risk of further public exposure and allows for a more considered and controlled placement process.
Completely. All submissions and correspondence are handled in strict confidence at every stage of the process.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US.
EMAIL US: INFO@GALLERYITHACA.COM
TELEPHONE: 917-890-2964