Focus areas
Blue-chip categories, global demand.
We focus on categories where supply is scarce, documentation is strong and demand is global: the categories most likely to remain liquid across economic cycles.
01The modern canon
Post-war and contemporary masters
Blue-chip artists from 1945 to the present whose markets have proved resilient through multiple economic cycles.
The art of the second half of the 20th century and the first decades of the 21st is, in our view, the most widely collected and most deeply traded part of the art market. Its defining movements, among them Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and Minimalism, are held by the great museums and taught in every art history curriculum. Owning a defining work from one of these movements is owning a piece of the cultural history of our time.
What we look for
- A-grade examples. The work an artist is remembered for, from the periods, series and mediums that command the deepest liquidity.
- Established auction records. A liquid secondary market, so that value can be observed rather than assumed.
- Exhibition and literature history. Works that have been shown, published and recorded in the catalogue raisonné.
- Museum quality. Original surfaces and honest, documented conservation.
How we add value
We hold for the long term, lend to museums and exhibitions where a loan serves the work, and keep the documentation complete and current. A work that is well cared for, well documented and well seen tends, we believe, to be a work that is well valued.
02Institutional backing
Established mid-career artists
Living artists with museum shows, biennial participation and a secondary market that has moved beyond the first sale.
Between the emerging artist and the canonical master sits a group we follow closely: artists whose institutional standing has been confirmed by museum exhibitions, biennial participation and serious critical attention, and whose work now trades in a liquid secondary market.
What we look for
- Institutional validation. Museum solo shows, acquisitions by public collections and participation in major biennials.
- Market depth. Established auction records and steady private demand, not a single headline result.
- Representation. A gallery program that supports the artist’s career and manages supply with care.
- Signature works. The bodies of work that define the artist’s contribution.
How we think about it
Mid-career markets can move faster than those of established masters, in both directions. We underwrite them more conservatively, we prefer the strongest examples to the most affordable ones, and we are patient. Permanent capital is a real advantage here: an artist’s reputation can take a decade to settle, and we can wait for it.
03Engineering meets scarcity
Collector automobiles
Automobiles of significant lineage, with original components, documented history and low production numbers.
A great collector automobile is functional art: a design that defined its era, built in small numbers, with a history that can be read from its chassis records, its ownership file and its competition or concours history.
What we look for
- Preservation-class examples. Original or correct components, including matching numbers where that is the standard for the model.
- Documented history. Factory records, ownership chain, service history and period photographs.
- Significant lineage. Marques and models with lasting importance to design and engineering history, and an established auction record.
- Low production numbers. Scarcity that is verifiable, not merely claimed.
Stewardship
We keep automobiles in operating condition, as temporary custodians of engineering history. That means regular, documented use and maintenance by specialists, climate-controlled storage and conservation that respects originality. A car that is run and recorded keeps both its mechanical health and its story intact.
04Mechanical excellence
Haute horlogerie
Important wristwatches from makers with deep collector markets, in original condition and with full documentation.
Fine mechanical watchmaking combines craft, engineering and design in an object small enough to wear and durable enough to last for generations. The most important references from the most respected makers have attracted collectors around the world, and the best of them trade in a deep, international secondary market.
What we look for
- Originality. Original dial, hands, case and movement, with unpolished or sympathetically preserved cases where that is the collector standard.
- Documentation. Box, papers, extract from the archives and service history where available.
- Rarity and significance. References that mattered to the maker’s history, in limited production.
- Condition. A condition report from a qualified specialist, with any replaced parts identified.
Stewardship
Watches are serviced by qualified specialists who preserve original components and record every intervention. Authenticity is confirmed through the maker’s archive or a recognized expert before we commit.
05Provenance in the bottle
Fine wine and spirits
Cellars and individual lots with impeccable storage history, from producers with established auction records.
In fine wine and spirits, provenance is not only a matter of ownership: it is a matter of storage. A bottle’s value depends on where it has been kept, at what temperature, and for how long. A great cellar with a clean, documented history can be among the most liquid of collectible assets, and one with a doubtful history among the least.
What we look for
- Storage history. Continuous, documented, temperature-controlled storage, ideally from release.
- Original packaging. Original cases and condition consistent with the stated history.
- Established markets. Producers and vintages with an established auction record and international demand.
- Authentication. Inspection by a qualified specialist, with particular care for older and rarer bottles.
How we buy
We consider individual lots and whole cellars, including cellars placed as part of an estate. We arrange inspection, transport and bonded or climate-controlled storage, and we keep a complete record of every bottle’s path.
06Supporting the next generation
Emerging patronage
Direct acquisition from primary galleries and degree shows, outside our secondary-market thresholds.
We allocate a portion of our capital to identifying and supporting the next generation of artists: living artists under 40 who are challenging conventions and creating new visual languages.
How we acquire
Directly from primary galleries and through patronage of degree shows. Our emerging-artist patronage acquires directly from primary galleries and degree shows and is not subject to these thresholds.
Why we do it
Buying early supports an artist’s career when support matters most, and offers meaningful upside as the work enters the secondary market. We see patronage as part of being a responsible participant in the art world, not a side project: the artists who will define the next canon are working in studios today.
How we behave
- We buy from the artist’s gallery, at the gallery’s price, and respect its placement policies.
- We hold for the long term and do not flip early work at auction.
- We lend to exhibitions when asked, and we keep the work well documented from the start.
07Beyond the focus areas
Something else?
If a work or collection is significant, well documented and traded in a liquid secondary market but doesn’t fit neatly into one of these areas, tell us about it anyway. We read every complete submission.
Focus areas
Considering a private sale?
We acquire discreetly, as principal, and pay promptly. Tell us about the work, its provenance and its condition, and you will hear from the people who decide.