Preserving Private Collections

Our experienced staff can handle a wide range of tasks:

• Ongoing oversight of a wide range of private collections — paintings, sculpture, works on paper, mixed media, furniture, jewelry, rare books, wine and more
  
  
• Facility inspections and installation supervision
  
  
• Arranging packing and transportation of individual pieces using our pre-screened vendor network
  
  
• Restoration oversight
  
  
• Framing coordination
  
  
• Documentation services, including inventories; condition reports; updates to existing documentation and photography; third-party appraisals; and all other collection tracking needs
  
  

Addressing your vulnerabilities.
You can rely on Private Client Group to swiftly settle even the heftiest of claims, but wouldn’t it be better to avoid damage altogether? Our seasoned team can:

• Inspect your collections with an eye toward the potential impact of fire, theft, water damage, breakage, renovations, etc.
  
  
  
• Develop sophisticated pre-disaster planning and post-event action steps for collections in areas prone to natural catastrophes or severe weather conditions

Today’s savvy collectors can enjoy the beauty of their acquisitions as well as use them as part of a larger wealth management strategy. Art can be:

• Used as collateral for loans
  
  
• Donated to museums (tax-saving benefits)
  
  
• Held within trusts as part of one’s estate planning

In any of these scenarios, protecting art investments over time is crucial, particularly when you own one-of-a-kind pieces. In addition to consulting an advisor to manage the financial aspects of your collection, you can look to our in-house preservation experts to help identify, and avoid, everyday circumstances that threaten its value.

Special delivery.
A work of art is never more at risk than while in transit. Not every insurance provider offers automatic coverage for newly acquired items. If you’re not properly covered and damage occurs after the piece changes hands, you could be exposed to hefty out-of-pocket expenses.

Similarly, knowing that your acquisition will be “professionally” packed and shipped is not enough information. Find out which vendors will be used, and ask about their experience with the particular medium being transported.

Safe at home.
Once the artwork arrives at its final destination, a new set of factors are poised to impact its safety and long-term value. Ask yourself…

• Was the art professionally unpacked and installed?
  
  
• Do I have an adequate home security system?
  
  
• Who has access to my home? Have they been properly screened?
  
  
• If I’m away, is there a caretaker or trusted person who checks my residence daily?
  
  
• Do I live in an area prone to flooding, hurricanes or wildfires? What are my plans to keep my art out of harm’s way?

In addition, often-overlooked factors — light, humidity, foot-traffic patterns in the home, an occasional lack of plain common sense — also can cause unnecessary deterioration in condition over time.

AIG Private Client Group’s knowledgeable team of risk management specialists can help you preserve the value of your collection and minimize its exposure to conditions that can lead to breakage or spoilage.

Appraiser recommendations. We can connect you to professionals who are best equipped to assess your one-of-a-kind collection.

An elite vendor network. Access our directory of pre-screened resources for shipping, buying and selling wine; off-site storage facilities; state-of-the-art security and temperature control systems.

Inventory management. We can conduct and maintain detailed inventories, recommend computerized inventorying systems and provide training for your staff. With our help, you’ll know what you own, where it’s located and the opportune time to drink it.

Storage solutions. We can advise on proper storage conditions and offer guidance when building or renovating your wine cellar.

Click on the links below to view proactive measures you can take to protect you valued assets.

• Protecting Your Wine Collection
• Protecting Outdoor Sculptures from Hurricanes