Do we incur shipping costs?
No. In the unlikely event the item is not purchased, we include a return label that you can use to ship the piece back to us. We maintain responsibility for the piece throughout shipping, delivery, the auction event, and the rare need for return shipping. Once the item is purchased it becomes the responsibility of […]
How does the winning bidder acquire a Certificate of Authenticity?
Each Certificate of Authenticity is specific to the piece, edition number, and individual collector. The Collector’s Registry Envelope, with accompanying RSVP card, is included in the shipment with each piece. Once the piece sells, the nonprofit has the privilege of presenting the envelope to the winning bidder, who will then fill out the registry RSVP […]
How many items may we request?
Are we able to offer the item to more than one bidder?
Absolutely! A single item has sold up to seven times within a single auction event. Once the Benefit Reserve is achieved, we will gladly ship directly to multiple buyers. We call this a Double Down. Ask your Charity Director for more information.
Should I put the piece in a live auction or silent auction?
Each of our Masterpieces has a profound physical presence and compelling personality. While a silent auction allows the piece to show off its physical presence, without the charisma of the auctioneer to bring out the backstory of the item, it tends to lose a little of its impact. This is why we have experienced a […]
What is a “Benefit Reserve”?
After careful deliberation, the Benefit Reserve has been established as the least amount for which the piece may sell. The intention is twofold: to maintain the integrity of the value of the art, and to ensure a winning bid, while still maximizing the nonprofit’s charitable contribution. The item can, and often does, sell for considerably more […]
Is this consignment?
While there are elements that mirror consignment, our program is more of a guaranteed sale. What that means is if the piece sells at auction, Foundation Michelangelo and your nonprofit share in the revenue 50/50, and if the piece doesn’t sell at auction, the nonprofit ships the piece back to Foundation Michelangelo; all of these […]