Fees and transparency
How fees work.
An expert should be paid for their work, not for their decision. Here are the principles governing the practice’s fees.
Four principles
- Quoted in advance. The amount is given in writing before any work.
- Independent of value. Fees are never a percentage of the estimated value.
- Independent of sale. They depend neither on a sale being concluded nor on the opinion given.
- Itemised. What is included — examination, research, report, travel — is specified.
Indicative schedule
| Service | Basis | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| First reading from photographs | Flat fee per object | Free for a single object |
| Authentication with report | Flat fee per object | from €250 |
| Valuation | Flat fee per object or per lot | from €180 |
| Collection inventory | Time spent / number of objects | €75 per hour |
| Provenance research | Time spent | €80 per hour |
| Radiocarbon dating (C14) | Flat fee per sample | from €320 |
| Advice, curating, training | Quote | On quote |
What may be added
- Travel and accommodation costs, quoted in advance.
- Any laboratory analyses, invoiced by the laboratory.
- Transport, insurance or handling costs for objects.
Quotes and invoicing
Each service is covered by a written quote. Terms of payment, cancellation and liability appear in the general terms. See legal notices and terms.
To understand the services concerned: all services; for the approach: step-by-step process.
Frequently asked questions
Going further
Why not display fixed prices?
Because complexity varies from file to file. The practice does, however, quote an amount before any work, and an indicative schedule will be published here. An indicative scale is published on this page; the quotation prevails.
Is a first reading chargeable?
It is free for a single object; beyond that, a flat fee is offered.
Which payment methods?
Bank transfer, Mobile Money (Cameroon) and bank card depending on the country.
Next step
Request a quote.
Describe your piece in a few lines and attach photographs: the reply is confidential.