Police in Athens, Greece have just recovered a valuable 17th century painting, stolen ten years ago from a museum in Europe. They’ve arrested two people. Trafficking in fine art and other antiquities has emerged as the third most lucrative criminal activity in the world behind only drugs and guns. “It’s a $6 billion industry,” according
It’s like a story out of a mystery novel. R. Scott Cook, the owner of the now-defunct Cook Fine Art gallery, is being sued by one of his clients, George Ball, according to the Courthouse News Service. Ball filed the lawsuit against Cook for allegedly stealing the proceeds of nine works of art that Cook
Adjusting claims involving damage to fine art and collectibles caused by destructive weather, like floods and wildfires, may seem like a daunting task. Not so, says Heather Becker, CEO of The Conservation Center located in Chicago, Ill. Adjusters can use a decision methodology to make the best possible, most cost-effective decisions when it comes to
When Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers held its Asian arts sale in May of this year, they expected sales of somewhere around a million dollars. The sale ended up racking up $4.2 million—with 80% of the buyers coming from China. Leslie Hindman, the founder of that auctioneer and the former host of HGTV’s At the Auction,
It’s been amazing to follow the recent trend of record-breaking auction prices realized on major works of art ranging from Old Masters like Rembrandt to contemporary superstars like Andy Warhol. Despite a lingering recession, the trend seems poised to continue. This summer, the London-based auction house Christie’s expects to raise more than $400 million in
The Museum of Fine Arts has agreed to pay restitution to the heir of a Jewish art dealer killed at Auschwitz after determining that a 17th-century Dutch painting in its collection was once owned by him and was probably plundered by the Nazis. With the deal, which culminates a more than decade-long investigation by the
There’s more than one way to play the index game. While investors have long followed indexes to monitor the stock, bond and other financial markets, there’s no reason the same approach can’t be applied to other items whose values fluctuate over time. Why not an index for rare stamps or fine wines? Or even celebrity
With many affluent consumers utilizing their valuable collections as a means of diversifying their investment portfolios, too often they do not devote adequate time and effort to managing the risks involved with owning such prized collections, according to a white paper released today by ACE Private Risk Services, the high-net-worth personal insurance business of the
The Bay Area has long been knocked for its lack of commercial prospects for artists of all stripes, including visual ones. San Francisco may be teeming with young creative types, but most who want to make a living from art depart for New York or Los Angeles, where strong gallery scenes are complemented by scads
Want a policy that covers personal and commercial collections, sculptures, paintings, antique furniture and more? We provide two ways for you to receive a quote.
The L.V. Toole Insurance Agency is dedicated to providing smart solutions for our clients' risk management and insurance needs using 21st century resources with the same old fashioned service upon which we were founded in 1939. We call it "Main Street Service, Global Resources." It means we use technology to make our service more personal, not less.
Find out how we can tailor an insurance program for you. Call the Toole Agency anytime to schedule a review of your policies and priorities. We'll take the time to review your situation and propose a customized, cost-effective program.
Use this website to learn more about our services and expertise. Enjoy!
© 2012 Fine Art Insurance. All rights reserved. Site design by Studio Two.
