Art Escrow

What Is Escrow?

An independent payment arrangement: Escrow is a transaction structure in which a neutral third party temporarily holds the buyer’s payment while the seller completes the obligations agreed between the parties.

For an artwork acquisition: When Escrow.com is selected, the collector deposits the purchase funds with Escrow.com rather than paying Epicentrum Art Gallery or the artwork’s owner directly.

Before shipment: Escrow.com verifies the payment and confirms when the funds have been secured. Epicentrum Art Gallery or the responsible seller then dispatches the artwork in accordance with the agreed transaction terms.

After delivery: The collector receives an agreed inspection period in which to examine the artwork and accompanying documentation. Once the artwork is accepted—or the inspection period expires in accordance with Escrow.com’s rules—the funds are disbursed according to the transaction structure.

In a direct gallery sale, the payment is released to Epicentrum Art Gallery. In a brokered sale, the seller’s proceeds and Epicentrum Art Gallery’s commission may be disbursed separately.

Escrow provides independent handling of the payment. It does not itself authenticate, appraise, insure, transport, or determine the market value of the artwork.

An Optional Payment Arrangement

Escrow.com is available as an additional payment arrangement for qualifying direct and brokered art transactions. It is not required for every purchase.

Eligible direct gallery purchases may continue to be completed by credit or debit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. When escrow is selected, the collector funds the Escrow.com transaction instead of paying Epicentrum Art Gallery or the artwork’s owner directly.

When Escrow.com Is Available

Escrow.com is normally available upon request for artwork purchases valued at €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in another currency.

For a transaction to qualify:

• The artwork, purchase price, documentation, delivery arrangements, and inspection period must be agreed before payment.
• The artwork must be capable of being shipped with appropriate insurance and delivery tracking.
• The collector, Epicentrum Art Gallery, and any separate owner or seller must complete the identity or business verification required by Escrow.com.
• The buyer’s and seller’s countries, bank accounts, currency, and transaction must be accepted by Escrow.com.
• The transaction must ordinarily involve full payment rather than an instalment plan, reservation deposit, exchange, or part-payment arrangement.
• The artwork may be sold directly by Epicentrum Art Gallery or through a brokered transaction in which Epicentrum Art Gallery acts as an intermediary between the collector and the artwork’s owner or seller.

Escrow may also be considered for lower-value acquisitions at our discretion. In such cases, the collector may be asked to cover the full Escrow.com transaction fee.

Instalments, reservation deposits, exchanges, part-payments, and other non-standard arrangements are considered individually.

Direct and Brokered Transactions

Direct gallery sale: When Epicentrum Art Gallery owns or directly sells the artwork, the collector, the gallery, and Escrow.com participate in the transaction. Following completion, Escrow.com releases the agreed payment to Epicentrum Art Gallery.

Brokered sale: Epicentrum Art Gallery may also act as a broker between the collector and a private owner, collector, artist, estate, gallery, or other seller. In this arrangement, the buyer, seller, and Epicentrum Art Gallery participate in a three-party Escrow.com transaction.

Separate disbursements: When a brokered transaction is completed successfully, Escrow.com may disburse the seller’s agreed proceeds to the seller and Epicentrum Art Gallery’s agreed commission separately, as recorded in the transaction.

Transaction documents: Brokered acquisitions may require a sale agreement, brokerage or commission agreement, and written instructions covering payment, documentation, delivery, inspection, returns, and the gallery’s commission.

Financial information: The visibility of the seller’s proceeds, gallery commission, escrow fee, and other financial details will depend on the Escrow.com transaction structure and the agreements accepted by the parties.

When Escrow May Be Helpful

• For a higher-value artwork acquisition.
• When the collector has not previously purchased from Epicentrum Art Gallery.
• When the artwork will be delivered internationally.
• When an art adviser, company, collection, or institution is purchasing on behalf of a client.
• When Epicentrum Art Gallery is acting as a broker between a collector and a separate owner or seller.
• When either party would prefer the payment to be held independently until delivery and inspection.
• When the transaction requires a clearly recorded description, inspection period, commission, and acceptance process.

Escrow is optional and is not necessary for every acquisition. Card, PayPal, and direct bank-transfer payments remain available where applicable.

How Escrow.com Works

1. Transaction terms are agreed — the collector, Epicentrum Art Gallery, and, where applicable, the separate owner or seller agree on the artwork, purchase price, seller’s proceeds, gallery commission, currency, documentation, delivery arrangements, inspection period, and responsibility for the escrow fee.
2. Accounts and verification are completed — all participating parties create or use their Escrow.com accounts and complete the identity or business verification requested by the provider.
3. The buyer deposits the funds — the collector funds the transaction using the payment method made available by Escrow.com. Escrow.com verifies the payment and confirms when the funds have been secured.
4. The artwork is dispatched — Epicentrum Art Gallery or the responsible seller professionally packs and dispatches the artwork in accordance with the agreed terms. Shipment details and tracking information are recorded in the transaction.
5. The artwork is inspected and funds are disbursed — following delivery, the collector inspects the artwork during the agreed period. Once the transaction is completed, Escrow.com releases the funds according to the agreed structure: directly to Epicentrum Art Gallery for a gallery sale, or separately to the seller and Epicentrum Art Gallery for a brokered sale.

Terms Confirmed Before Payment

Before the Escrow.com transaction is funded, the principal terms of the acquisition will be recorded as applicable:

• The identity and role of the buyer, seller, and Epicentrum Art Gallery.
• Whether Epicentrum Art Gallery is acting as the direct seller or as a broker.
• The artist, title, date, medium, dimensions, edition information, and other identifying details.
• The physical condition of the artwork and any known restoration or conservation information.
• The purchase price, transaction currency, and applicable taxes.
• For a brokered transaction, the seller’s proceeds and Epicentrum Art Gallery’s commission.
• The invoice, certificate of authenticity, provenance information, catalogue references, and other documentation supplied with the artwork.
• The framing or presentation included with the artwork, where applicable.
• The party responsible for packing, shipping, insurance, export documentation, and delivery.
• The fourteen-calendar-day inspection period or any alternative period expressly agreed by the parties.
• The conditions governing acceptance, rejection, return shipping, damage, and dispute resolution.
• Whether the Escrow.com fee is paid by the collector, seller, Epicentrum Art Gallery, or divided between the participating parties.

Fourteen-Day Inspection Period

Our standard period: Unless another period is expressly agreed in writing, Epicentrum Art Gallery proposes an inspection period of fourteen calendar days following confirmed delivery.

Purpose of inspection: The inspection period allows the collector to confirm that the delivered artwork corresponds to the description, condition, dimensions, medium, edition information, framing, and documentation recorded in the transaction.

Acceptance: If the artwork meets the agreed terms, the collector accepts it through Escrow.com and authorises the release of the funds.

Earlier acceptance: The collector does not need to wait for the full fourteen days and may accept the artwork at any time during the inspection period.

No response: If the inspection period expires without rejection and Escrow.com has confirmed delivery, the funds may be released automatically in accordance with Escrow.com’s rules.

Rejection: If the collector believes the artwork does not correspond to the agreed terms, the collector must select the appropriate rejection option within Escrow.com before the inspection period expires and contact Epicentrum Art Gallery immediately.

The artwork must not be returned without written instructions from Epicentrum Art Gallery, the responsible seller, and, where required, Escrow.com.

Funding, Currencies & Processing Time

Escrow funding: Artwork escrow transactions are normally funded by bank wire. Card and PayPal payments available through the Epicentrum Art Gallery website are separate alternatives and should not be used in addition to an Escrow.com transaction.

Available payment methods: Escrow.com independently determines which funding options are available for each transaction. Card and PayPal funding are restricted for certain transaction types and should not be assumed to be available for an artwork acquisition.

Currencies: Epicentrum Art Gallery will normally propose an escrow transaction in EUR or USD. Availability remains subject to Escrow.com’s supported currencies and banking requirements.

Currency conversion: Escrow.com does not perform currency conversion. Any exchange rate, intermediary-bank fee, or international transfer charge is determined by the banks involved.

Additional time: Escrow may require additional time for account creation, identity verification, bank funding, payment clearance, shipping, the fourteen-day inspection period, and final disbursement.

We recommend requesting escrow before any urgent delivery or installation deadline.

Escrow Fees & Gallery Commission

Standard arrangement: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Escrow.com transaction fee is paid by the collector.

Alternative arrangements: In direct or brokered transactions, the seller or Epicentrum Art Gallery may agree to share or cover the escrow fee as part of an individual purchase arrangement.

Fee confirmation: The applicable fee and responsibility for paying it will be recorded in the Escrow.com transaction before the parties accept the terms.

Brokerage commission: In a brokered transaction, Epicentrum Art Gallery’s commission is recorded separately from the Escrow.com fee. The commission may be paid by the buyer, deducted from the seller’s proceeds, or divided as agreed by the parties.

Successful completion: Unless otherwise expressly agreed, Epicentrum Art Gallery’s brokerage commission is disbursed when the transaction is completed successfully.

Cancellation or rejection: Under Escrow.com’s current rules, the buyer may remain responsible for the escrow fee and return-shipping expenses if a funded transaction is cancelled or the artwork is rejected. The applicable conditions should be reviewed before the transaction is accepted.

View the current Escrow.com fee calculator

Documentation, Shipping & Insurance

Professional records: Each acquisition is documented with the invoice, transaction records, and artwork-specific documentation identified before purchase.

Direct gallery sales: Epicentrum Art Gallery prepares or coordinates the documentation, packing, shipping, and insurance arrangements.

Brokered sales: The separate seller may be responsible for some or all of the documentation, packing, or dispatch. Epicentrum Art Gallery will coordinate the process and ensure that each party’s responsibilities are recorded before payment.

Professional packing: The artwork must be packed using materials and methods appropriate to its medium, condition, dimensions, framing, and destination.

Shipping: Delivery is arranged using an appropriate fine-art courier or international carrier. Tracking information is provided whenever available and recorded through Escrow.com where applicable.

Insurance: The artwork is insured in accordance with the delivery arrangements recorded for the transaction.

International documentation: Epicentrum Art Gallery or the responsible seller prepares the available invoice, export, and shipment documentation. Import taxes, customs duties, and local clearance requirements may still apply in the destination country.

Learn more about our worldwide shipping service

About Escrow.com

Escrow.com provides dedicated transaction structures for artwork sales and brokered transactions. It acts as the independent third party responsible for holding the buyer’s funds, recording the transaction terms, tracking the transaction process, and disbursing funds when the agreed conditions have been satisfied.

Epicentrum Art Gallery uses Escrow.com as its only named independent online escrow provider. The service is arranged individually and is not automatically applied to website orders.

Learn more about art escrow at Escrow.com

Learn more about Escrow.com broker transactions