Why buy through Dickinson?
With its unparalleled knowledge of private collections, Dickinson has unique access to the finest artworks available to purchase outside museum collections.
Recently, a private collector approached Dickinson with an urgent request for a masterpiece by Thomas Gainsborough, the great eighteenth-century portraitist. The problem: it needed to be a full-length portrait of exceptional quality and condition, and every example known to him was already in a museum collection. Dickinson knew of one celebrated work, Gainsborough's masterful Portrait of Lady Bate-Dudley, which had been in an English private collection for a century. Dickinson contacted the owners and negotiated the sale, before organising a revelatory clean and finding a beautiful period frame to house the portrait.
Museum-quality expertise
With over a century of combined experience in the art market, Dickinson is renowned for its expertise. Simon and Milo Dickinson share a deep passion for art, demonstrated by their discoveries of works by Botticelli, Giambologna, Titian, Van Dyck, Poussin and Constable, among others.
Dickinson conducts in-depth research into every work, conducting due diligence, investigating attributions where necessary, and soliciting opinions and authentication from the relevant experts, thereby reducing transactional risk and allowing our clients to buy and sell with confidence.
Christie's, Sotheby's or Dickinson?
Unlike traditional auction houses, which are forced to charge high commission rates due to their large overheads, Dickinson will always be able to offer lower commission rates, meaning more of the sale price stays with the seller.
For example, auction houses will typically charge a seller 10-15% commission and a buyer 26% on the first $1 million. For a $1 million sale, the total commission can be over $400,000, a 40% commission rate, pushing up the price for the buyer and reducing the return price to the seller. Dickinson only charges commission once, and at a significantly reduced level, normally between 10 and 20%.
Discreet, personal approach
The value of a work of art is often safeguarded by keeping it away from the public eye. Something bought or sold publicly at auction has a price marked against it for five or ten years, even if it was negatively affected by the market conditions on the day of the auction. Dickinson understands a collector's desire to buy and protect an artwork that will hold value long-term, and has the freedom to act discreetly without publicising sale prices.
Dickinson can offer advice on all aspects of art collection and management, from valuations, to tax advice, framing, lighting, and storage. Our expert team and personal approach mean each individual client remains our focus.
Our many notable sales demonstrate the success of our approach. Dickinson has made major sales to most leading international museums, and we have acted on behalf of museums, trusts, and a wide range of important private and corporate clients.
A love of art
More than anything, we are here because we find the art market compelling and endlessly fascinating. The discovery of new artists, lost artworks and provenance is a great privilege that we take very seriously and continue to enjoy. Please contact us if you wish to learn more.