FAQs
FAQs
Although buying art on our website is just a simple few clicks, we do appreciate that you may want to have some questions answered before committing to your purchase. We have therefore compiled answers to some frequently asked questions to guide you.
However, if your question is not answered or if you have a more specific question please drop us a message in our chat and we will get back to you asap.
For Buyers
DO YOU ALSO DO INSTALLATIONS?
You may require an installation service for large pieces of art such as stone sculptures for gardens and outdoors, and indeed, indoors. We are happy to arrange for the installation of your piece for a nominal fee where applicable. Do let us know before delivery so we can combine the delivery and installation process at once, if possible.
DO YOU GUARANTEE ARTWORK AUTHENTICITY?
Yes, we guarantee that, unless stated otherwise, all artworks bought from Arts of Africa are genuine and authentic. We conduct detailed checks on all artworks prior to buying them on your behalf, and pride ourselves in our diligence and market knowledge. Please refer to our Refund Policy and Terms of Business for further details.
DO YOU SHIP WORLDWIDE?
Yes, we ship worldwide. Except for Seedpod and Assemblage Art items, our prices include shipping costs from all African countries to the rest of the world.
HOW WILL MY ARTWORK BE SHIPPED?
All artworks are professionally packed to the highest standards by trained professionals or our experienced logistics partners. We work in partnership with professional courier companies such as DHL, FedEx etc. to offer the highest standard of service, offering both speed and efficiency as well as convenience. Shipping schedule will be advised a few days after order confirmation and you can track your order in real time..
WHAT ARE YOUR SHIPPING COSTS?
Except for Seedpod and Assemblage Art, shipping and delivery costs are included in the price displayed on our online shop, so if you are buying an artwork direct from our website you will pay no extra shipping fees to any address worldwide.
CONDITION GUIDE
Unless stated otherwise on a particular item information, all our artworks are sold in their pristine condition and are sourced directly from the artists.
WHY AM I BEING ASKED FOR ID PRIOR TO SHIPPING?
Since 10 January 2020, the 5th EU Money Laundering Directive has required art market professionals, including secondary market dealers (under which Arts of Africa falls), to undertake anti-money laundering checks on all buyers who acquire a work of art priced at €10,000 or more (or have acquired more than one work of art with an aggregate price of €10,000 or more). We take our responsibility to comply with anti-money laundering regulations seriously and we ask you to respect this. While we recognise that it may be a minor inconvenience, if we ask you for proof of identification and confirmation of address, please understand that this is now a requirement placed on us by law.
ARE ARTWORKS INSURED DURING TRANSIT?
If we arrange the shipping (which is typically the case when buying from us), we insure all artworks for their full value. We kindly ask you to notify us straightaway in the event of damage or loss in transit.
WHAT IF AN ARTWORK ARRIVES DAMAGED?
In the unlikely event that an artwork arrives damaged, please contact us immediately. If there is any noticeable damage to the packaging, please do not open it to inspect the artwork but contact us immediately for advice on next steps. Under our Terms of Business, it is the Buyer's responsibility to notify us of any damage within 5 working days. If you contact us after 5 days, we cannot accept responsibility for damage to the artwork as it will be difficult to prove when the damage occurred.
WHAT IF I'M UNSATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE?
In the unlikely event that you are not happy with your purchase, send us an email as soon as possible and we'll get back to you. We'll be happy to advise further and discuss your options.
DO I HAVE TO PAY IMPORT DUTY AND TAXES IF I ORDER FROM OUTSIDE THE UK?
Most countries do not charge import duty on original handmade works of art. Fortunately, all our artworks fall into this category. However a few countries do charge a percentage of the value of the artwork. Please download and check this HS commodity codes, import duty & taxes for Art to see if your country charges any import duties and taxes on original art.
Buyers ordering from outside of the UK may be required to pay import duty and/or taxes. Please note that any import taxes or duty are the responsibility of the buyer - this includes EU-based clients from 1 January 2021. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability for import tax and/or duty charged by your local tax authority if you are importing a work of art ordered from us into your country. We will, however, assist in every way possible to make the process smooth and hassle-free for you.
CAN I REQUEST A VAT INVOICE?
If you are buying through a UK-based VAT registered business, please contact us to confirm whether we are selling with full VAT in the price (20%) or under the margin scheme. Please note that most of the artworks we sell are sold under the margin scheme, so you will not be able to reclaim VAT on the purchase. Full details on how this scheme works can be found on the HMRC website.
CAN I TRUST A COMMUNICATION ADVISING ME THAT YOUR BANK DETAILS HAVE CHANGED?
In the interests of fraud prevention, please note that our contact details and bank details will not change. If you ever receive correspondence suggesting that they have, please contact us immediately by manually entering our phone number +44 (0)7980 865056. We further advise that you contact us to confirm that we have received your payment (if not paying through the website). We take every reasonable precaution to prevent fraud, and we cannot be held liable for payments made to fraudulent third parties.
For Artists and Art Sellers
WHAT’S YOUR COMMISSION?
It’s completely free to consign with us, and we take a commission at the point of sale depending on the achieved artwork price. Once you’ve shown us the artwork you’d like to sell, we will agree:
- a net sale price – the indicative amount received from the buyer, excluding shipping
- a target net – the ideal amount you wish to net from the sale (sale price minus our commission)
- a lowest accepted net – the lowest net you would be willing to receive in the event of a sale
We will always try to achieve your target net, but it is good for us to know what wiggle room we have to play with when negotiating with buyers.
WHICH WORKS DOES ARTS OF AFRICA ACCEPT?
We accept all forms of exceptional artworks from African artists with special emphasis on upcoming and underprivileged artists who would otherwise have no means to access the world market. Forms of art include stone and wooden sculptures and carvings, handmade African curios items, African Jewellery, African batik, African furniture items, woven items, mixed media, recycled items and more. All artworks have to be original and handmade.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE A CONSIGNMENT VALUATION?
In cases of a consignment, once you have submitted your enquiry, our consignments team will be in contact within 5 working days.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A VALUATION?
Once we have an accurate idea of your artwork’s condition and location, we will discuss pricing with you, using our knowledge of the market and specialist tools to estimate market value. We will advise you on how best to price your artwork, taking into consideration factors such as condition of the artwork, how keen you are to sell and the current market for your work.
WHAT ARE YOUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS?
Once we have agreed on pricing, we will send you our Terms of Consignment and an Artwork Form summarising the artwork details. Once these are signed and submitted, we will move forward with marketing!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY ARTWORK GOES LIVE?
We hope to receive enquiries via our online platforms and, unless we’ve agreed otherwise, our sales team will pitch out new artworks to targeted clients. If a buyer makes an offer below asking price, we will share this with you, and then it’s up to you how we proceed. This applies particularly to large purchase orders such as large stone sculptures.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY ARTWORK SELLS?
Once you’ve agreed to the sale, we will invoice our buyer. Once we have received payment, we will manage the safe transportation of your artwork to its new buyer. From the point of collection to the point of payment to you, we take full responsibility for the artwork. Once the buyer has received the artwork safely, we make payment to you.
WHO PAYS FOR THE SHIPPING COSTS?
Typically, we will arrange the packing and shipping – the cost is covered by the buyer or by us. We have strong relationships with art logistics specialists who can condition-check and pack your artwork with confidence.