We would like to invite you for our upcoming Live Auction Friday, December 19th. We offer gallery services at auction pricing! Full return policy if not thrilled with your purchase! Reserve your seat today!

The entire eBay Live Auctions service ends on December 31, 2008. Join us Friday, December 19th for an auction of hundreds of master works from all eras. Unlike Bonhams, Christies, Doyle or any other auctionhouse we know of, we offer 100% full refund for 7 days after purchase, all existing documentation, plus free annual appraisals for the life of the work. Bidding begins at 25-50% off gallery retail pricing.

Agam, Yaacov Aldegrever, Heinrich Archipenko, Alexander Arman Braque, Georges Brueghel the Elder, Pieter Butterfield, Deborah Calder, Alexander Carruthers, Roy Cassatt, Mary Cezanne, Paul Chagall, Marc Chia, Sandro Corinth, Lovis Degas, Edgar Dufy, Raoul Durer, Albrecht Francis, Sam

Gilhooly, David Goltzius, Hendrik Hayter, Stanley William Hopfer, Hieronymus Kandinsky, Wassily Klimt, Gustav Leger, Fernand Manet, Edouard Manet, Eduard Masson, Andre Master of the Die Matisse, Henri Minne, George Miro, Joan Moore, Henry Papart, Max Pasmore, Victor Picasso, Pablo

Rembrandt, Harmensz van Rijn Renoir, Pierre-Auguste Rouault, Georges Schiele, Egon Schongauer, Martin Shemi, Calman Signac, Paul Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de van Dyck, Anthony Vasarely, Victor Villon, Jacques Vlaminck, Maurice de Warhol, Andy Whistler, James Abbot Yvaral, Jean Piere Vasarely

Understand how big auction houses work

This section is meant to contrast auction house statements of authenticity and condition and compare them to Masterworks Fine Art, Inc.'s terms and conditions of same. The statements extracted from the website or catalogues of the auction houses listed below are direct quotes. These have been extracted from their Conditions of Sale.

In effect they state that all auction items are sold "AS IS" with no statements of guarantee or condition attached.

In Contrast: Masterworks Fine Art, Inc. guarantees BOTH the authenticity and the condition of its works - IN FULL - for the lifetime that our clients own a work. There are no exceptions or restrictions to this statement.

There is an understanding between the auction house and the buyer that once the sale is finalized, the auction house absolves any responsibility for what they just sold. There is a strong element of risk involved with this type of sale. A great deal of expertise is needed when dealing with auction houses for this reason. Their representatives are very kind and helpful, but the last word is written in their Conditions of Sale and cannot be overridden by any statement made by a particular representative.

Read below for excerpts of various Conditions of Sales from the following prominent auction houses:

Christie's Auctions

"Neither Christie's nor the seller provides any guarantee in relation to the nature of the property… The property is sold "as is"… All statements by us in the catalogue entry for the property or in the condition report, or made orally or in writing elsewhere, are statements of opinion and are not to be relied on as statements of fact. Such statements do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by us of any kind. References in the catalogue entry or the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance only and should be evaluated by personal inspection by the bidder or a knowledgeable representative. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others."

Sotheby's

"All property is sold "AS IS" without any representations or warranties by us or the Consignor as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, the correctness of the catalogue or other description of the physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, medium, provenance, exhibitions, literature or historical relevance of any property and no statement anywhere, whether oral or written, whether made in the catalogue, an advertisement, a bill of sale, a salesroom posting or announcement, or elsewhere, shall be deemed such a warranty, representation or assumption of liability. We and the Consignor make no representation and warranties, express or implied, as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights, including but not limited to, any reproduction rights in any property. We and the Consignor are not responsible for errors and omissions in the catalogue, glossary, or any supplemental material."

Bonhams & Butterfields

"All property is sold "as is." Neither Bonhams & Butterfields nor the consignor makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the merchantability, fitness or condition of the property or as to the correctness of description, genuineness, attribution, provenance or period of the property or as to whether the purchaser acquires any copyrights or other intellectual property rights in lots sold or as to whether a work of art is subject to the artist's moral rights or other residual rights of the artist. The purchaser expressly acknowledges and agrees that in no event shall Bonhams & Butterfields be liable for any damages including, without limitation, any compensatory, incidental or consequential damages."

Doyle New York

"All lots are sold "AS IS" and without recourse and neither Doyle New York nor its consignor makes any warranties or representations, express or implied, with respect to such lots, except for the limited warranties expressly stated in the Terms of Guarantee section of this catalogue… Express or implied warranty or representation of any kind or nature with respect to merchantability, fitness for purpose, correctness of the catalogue or other description of the physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, medium, material, genuineness, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, exhibitions, literature or historical significance of any lot sold. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging; nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. References in the catalogue entry or the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance only and should be evaluated by personal inspection by the bidder or a knowledgeable representative.

The Terms of Guarantee are controlling, and no statement, whether written or oral, and whether made in this catalogue, an advertisement, a bill of sale, a salesroom posting or announcement, the remarks of an auctioneer, or otherwise, shall be deemed to create any warranty, representation or assumption of liability. All statements by Doyle New York in the catalogue entry for the property or in the condition report, or made orally or in writing elsewhere, are statements of opinion and are not to be relied on as statements of fact. Except as stated in the Terms of Guarantee, neither Doyle New York nor the seller is responsible in any way for errors or omissions in the catalogue or any supplemental material. Buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the condition of the property and the matters referred to in the catalogue entry."

SWANN Galleries

"All property is sold "as is" and neither Swann nor the consignor makes any warranties or representations of any kind or nature with respect to the property or its value, and in no event shall they be responsible for correctness of description, genuineness, attribution, provenance, authenticity, authorship, completeness, condition of the property or estimate of value. No statement (oral or written) in the catalogue, at the sale, or elsewhere shall be deemed such a warranty or representation, or any assumption of responsibility."

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

"All lots are sold "AS IS" and without recourse and neither Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. nor its consignor(s) makes any warranties or representations, express or implied with respect to such lots. Neither Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. nor its consignor(s) makes any express or implied warranty or representation of any kind or nature with respect to merchantability, fitness for purpose, correctness of the catalogue or other description of the physical condition, size, quality, rarity, importance, medium, material, genuineness, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, exhibitions, literature or historical significance of any lot sold. The absence of any reference to the condition of a lot does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. No statement, whether written or oral, and whether made in this catalogue, or in supplements to this catalogue, an advertisement, a bill of sale, a salesroom posting or announcement, the remarks of an auctioneer, or otherwise, shall be deemed to create any warranty, representation or assumption of liability. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, Inc. and its consignor(s) make no warranty or representation, express or implied, that the purchase will acquire any copyright or reproduction rights to any lot sold."

SKINNER Auctioneers and Appraisers of Antiques and Fine Art

"All property is sold as is, and neither the auctioneer nor any consignor makes any warranties or representation of any kind or nature with respect to the property, and in no event shall they be responsible for the correctness, nor deemed to have made any representation or warranty, of description, genuineness, authorship, attribution, provenance, period, culture, source, origin, or condition of the property and no statement made at the sale, or in the bill of sale, or invoice or elsewhere shall be deemed such a warranty of representation or an assumption of liability."

We hope that this allows you to make informed decisions when purchasing fine art
from wherever you decide.