Your collection, documented the way an institution documents its own
Object-by-object cataloging, written condition reporting, and location tracking — the record your insurer, your advisor, your conservator, and eventually your heirs will all work from.
Most collections live in someone’s memory and an out-of-date spreadsheet.
That is the state I find most private collections in: accurate three acquisitions ago, and dependent on one person remembering what was paid, who framed it, and where it went. We rebuild that record properly, object by object.
Two decades of curatorial practice sit behind the method, and a decade of registrar experience on the team alongside it.
Condition reporting
A condition report is a dated, written and photographed assessment of an object’s physical state — craquelure, cupping, abrasion, foxing, frame wear, prior repair.
This is the document that settles an insurance claim, supports a loan request, and tells a conservator exactly what changed and when.
Ongoing stewardship
Once the record exists, keeping it current is the easy part. We track locations across residences and storage, keep insurance schedules aligned with appraisals, handle loan and exhibition paperwork, and plan rotations through the year.
One point of contact who actually knows the collection, rather than a file nobody has opened since the last move.
Questions we get asked
What is collection cataloging?
Collection cataloging is the creation of a complete, photographed record for every object in a collection: artist, title, date, medium, dimensions, edition, inscriptions, provenance, purchase and appraisal history, framing, and current location. It is the document insurers, advisors, conservators, and heirs all work from.
What is a condition report and why do I need one if nothing is moving?
A condition report is a dated, written and photographed assessment of an artwork’s physical state. You need one even for works that never move because change is gradual and memory is generous — a dated baseline is what lets you prove a loss, support a claim, lend with confidence, and give a conservator something to compare against.
How long does cataloging a collection take?
Most private collections take a few days on site to photograph and record, then a couple of weeks to research, verify, and produce properly. Larger or poorly documented collections take longer; we will tell you the honest range after a walk-through.
Do I own the catalog and the database?
Yes, outright. You receive a searchable database and a printed catalog, and there is no subscription required to keep reading your own records.
Ready to know exactly what you own?
A walk-through tells us the size of the job. From there you get a written scope, a timeline, and a flat price.
Request an Estimate