Fine Art Insurance
Fine art Insurance
Masterpieces Secured, Legacies Preserved: Fine Art Insurance Excellence
Whether you’re displaying artwork at home, sending it to an exhibition, or storing it off-site, your paintings, antiques, and other rare pieces need specialist protection. Items like these carry both financial value and history, meaning that damage or loss can’t be fixed with a like-for-like replacement.
Our fine art insurance is designed around how and where your items are kept, covering theft, accidental damage, environmental risks, and transport, with flexible terms that reflect the way your assets are handled.
At Arkwright Private Clients, we make sure every piece is valued properly and covered on terms that fit your situation. That means agreed values , support for international cover , and a broker who keeps things simple.
Why You Need Fine Art Insurance
It’s easy to think your paintings or antiques are covered under regular home insurance, but when something goes wrong, the gaps in standard policies become painfully clear. Theft, accidental damage, humidity, or even just moving a piece across town can leave you exposed.
Fine art insurance is built for these risks. It includes agreed value cover , so you know your artwork is protected for what it’s really worth. It also follows your pieces wherever they go, whether they’re on the wall or in transit to a gallery.
Even if your collection stays at home, having the right insurance means knowing you’re fully covered, without having to read the fine print when something happens. It’s about the money, sure, but it’s also about protecting something special.
Types of Fine Art Insurance
Fine art collections
need different types of protection depending on where they are and how they’re handled. Whether they’re displayed at home, in storage, or between locations, the right mix of cover helps keep everything safe.
Agreed Value Cover
This means your paintings, sculptures, and antiques are insured for a value you and your insurer agree on upfront. There’s no second-guessing or surprises, just a fair and expected payout if something happens to your pride and joy.
Transit Insurance
Art doesn’t always stay put, so if your collection travels between homes, galleries, or restorers, transit insurance keeps it protected on the move, covering accidental damage, theft, or loss along the way.
Semantic keyword
Storage Insurance
Whether your artwork is displayed on your home’s walls or kept off-site in a specialist facility, storage insurance protects it from things like fire, flooding, theft, and environmental damage.
Restoration & Repair Support
If one of your prized pieces gets damaged, you’ll naturally want it restored properly. Many fine art insurance policies give you access to skilled restoration experts without any unnecessary stress or hassle.
Multi-Piece Policies
If you own multiple items of art, a multi-piece policy will help you keep things simple. It brings your whole collection under one tailored plan, often with flexible terms and a premium that’s lower than you might expect.
Each of these options helps build a policy that fits how your collection lives, offering real peace of mind wherever your art is.
Things You Should Know About Fine Art Insurance
Here are a few things to be aware of.
- Accurate Valuation Is Key – Your insurance payout depends on agreed valuations, which must reflect the true market and replacement value of your artwork. Regular updates are essential to keep coverage accurate, as art values can fluctuate.
- Storage Conditions Matter – Where and how your pieces are stored affect how much you pay. For example, art kept in climate-controlled, secure environments will typically be cheaper than those in fluctuating temperatures.
- Transit Risks Are Often Overlooked – Moving art between exhibitions and galleries requires additional coverage. Transit insurance protects against damage or loss while your pieces are on the move.
- Modifications and Restoration Impact Coverage – Any restoration or significant alterations should be declared to your insurer, with documentation ensuring your claims are processed without disputes.
- Specialist Repair Access Is Important – Having access to expert restorers through your insurer means any damage can be professionally repaired without jeopardising your coverage.
Knowing these details helps you choose the right fine art insurance policy that matches your collection’s unique needs, giving you confidence that your investment is protected at every stage.
Why Choose Us for Fine Art Insurance?
Looking after fine art is about understanding what each piece means to you, and at Arkwright Private Clients, we bring experience, care, and proper attention to the way your collection is protected. We offer:
- Bespoke fine art insurance with agreed value cover that reflects what each item is truly worth
- Tailored protection for artwork kept at home, in secure storage, or while being moved from one location to another.
- Access to trusted restoration experts who have the experience to handle repairs with care and precision
- Multi-piece policies to keep things simple, with flexible terms and potential savings for covering multiple items.
- Dedicated brokers who work with you directly, offering support that’s personal and knowledgeable
We don’t just offer fine art insurance policies. We help you protect the work, the memories, and the investment, with everything handled with the same level of respect you’ve given to building your collection.
Insuring Fine Art
What is the best way of insuring Fine Art?
- Fine Art Insurance: Opting for a specialised fine art insurance policy is the best way to protect your valuable pieces. These policies are tailored to cover the unique risks associated with fine art, such as damage during transit or restoration costs.
- Regular Appraisals: Ensuring your fine art is regularly values can help keep your insurance coverage up-to-date. This is crucial as the value of art pieces can fluctuate over time.
- Secure Storage: Properly storing your fine art in a secure location, such as a climate-controlled room or a vault, can also impact your insurance coverage. Insurers often require specific storage conditions to minimize the risk of damage or theft.
Specialist & Enthusiast
Team of art specialists and enthusiasts who have a wealth of experience in fine art, including degrees in art history.
Artisan Repairers
Work closely with artisan repairers and experts in restoration to ensure the professional and sympathetic restoration of all things irreplaceable.
Offer specific fine art extensions including:
– new acquisitions
– defective title
– restoration and framing
– work in progress (due to damage in production or death of the artist)
– temporary removal
Pay for loss in value
Insurers may repair a damaged item of fine art or a collectable, they may pay for any loss in its market value.
Collection of Cover
Drawings, etchings, prints and photographs, statues and sculptures, antique furniture, and much more.
Claims service
UK based Specialist Team of Experts
FAQ
What is Fine Art Insurance?
Fine Art Insurance is a specialised insurance policy designed to protect valuable artwork, collectibles, and antiques against risks like theft, damage, fire, and accidental loss. It offers tailored coverage based on the artwork’s appraised value.
Why is Fine Art Insurance important for collectors and galleries?
Fine Art Insurance is essential for collectors, galleries, and museums as it safeguards against financial loss due to unforeseen events. It ensures that the insured pieces are covered for restoration, replacement, or compensation in case of damage or loss.
What types of art can be covered under Fine Art Insurance?
Fine Art Insurance can cover a wide range of valuable items, including paintings, sculptures, antique furniture, rare books, photographs, installations, and collectibles, whether privately owned or displayed in public institutions.
How is the value of my art collection determined for insurance?
To get the right cover, you’ll usually need a professional valuation. That way, there’s no guesswork — just a clear agreed value that reflects what your pieces are really worth, not a rough market estimate.
Does Fine Art Insurance cover artworks in transit?
Yes, if your artwork is on the move, transit insurance can help protect it from damage or loss. Whether you’re sending a piece to an exhibition, gallery, or for restoration, it stays covered while in transport.
Is Fine Art Insurance different from standard home or property insurance?
Absolutely — Fine Art Insurance offers specialised, higher-value coverage tailored to unique, irreplaceable pieces, unlike standard property insurance, which may have coverage limits and exclusions for high-value, rare items.
What risks are typically covered by Fine Art Insurance?
Fine Art Insurance generally covers risks such as theft, accidental damage, fire, water damage, natural disasters, vandalism, and sometimes mysterious disappearance, depending on the policy’s terms.
Can Fine Art Insurance policies be customized?
Yes — most Fine Art Insurance policies are highly customizable, allowing clients to choose coverage options based on the art’s value, storage location, transportation needs, and specific risk exposures.
Who should consider getting Fine Art Insurance?
Private collectors, art dealers, museums, galleries, auction houses, and anyone owning or handling valuable, unique artworks should consider Fine Art Insurance to protect their investments from potential loss.
How do I choose the right Fine Art Insurance provider?
To choose the right Fine Art Insurance provider, look for companies specializing in art coverage, offering tailored policies, proven experience with art claims, flexible terms, and professional valuation services.
What does fine art insurance cover that home insurance doesn’t?
Fine art insurance is created specifically for high-value pieces. It covers things like agreed value payouts , damage during transit, environmental risks, and gives you access to restoration experts if something goes wrong.
Do I need to update my insurance if I restore or modify a piece?
Yes, always. A restoration or any kind of change can affect how your piece is valued. Let your insurer know so your fine art insurance still reflects its current condition, and there are no surprises if you ever need to claim.
Can I insure multiple pieces under one policy?
You can. In fact, many collectors prefer multi-piece policies because they’re easier to manage and often come with discounts. It’s a simpler way to make sure your whole collection is covered under one clear plan.
What should I do if my art is damaged?
Let your insurer know straight away. If your policy includes access to trusted restorers, they’ll help arrange expert repairs. That way, your piece gets the care it needs without causing issues with your claims.