Home / Art Rbcpay
Buy and sell fine art with the payment held until you have seen it
Art transactions turn on authenticity, provenance and condition, none of which can be settled from a photograph. Rbcpay holds the buyer’s funds until the work has arrived and been examined.
How an art transaction works
1. Agree on terms
Buyer and seller agree the price, the documentation to be supplied and the inspection period.
2. Buyer pays Rbcpay
Funds are secured before the work leaves the seller.
3. Seller ships the work
The piece is dispatched with the agreed documentation.
4. Buyer examines and approves
The buyer checks authenticity documentation and condition against what was agreed.
5. Rbcpay pays the seller
The funds are released and the payment is final.
What we handle
Fine art
Paintings, sculpture, prints and works on paper sold between private parties, dealers and galleries.
Photography and editions
Limited edition works where the edition number and condition are part of what is being bought.
Collectibles and antiques
Rare objects and antiques where condition on arrival determines whether the sale completes.
Dealer and broker sales
Sales arranged through a dealer or broker whose commission is agreed and released alongside the seller’s payment.
Authenticity and provenance checked before the money moves
The documentation that accompanies a work is as much a part of the sale as the work itself. Making that documentation part of the agreed terms means the buyer can verify it during the inspection period rather than after payment.
- Required documentation agreed before payment
- Buyer examines the work and the paperwork together
- Funds returned if the terms are not met
Protection through shipping and handling
Art moves through specialist shipping and can change hands several times before it reaches the buyer. Holding the payment until arrival means the seller is not paid for a work that never safely arrived.
- Payment held for the whole journey
- Condition checked on arrival, not on dispatch
- Terms recorded before either party commits
Art transaction questions
Who is responsible for authentication?
The documentation the seller must supply is agreed between the parties before payment and forms part of the transaction terms.
What if the work arrives damaged?
The buyer does not approve it during the inspection period. The work is returned under the agreed terms and the payment is returned to the buyer.
Can a dealer or gallery take a commission through Rbcpay?
Yes. A brokered transaction lets the intermediary set their commission up front, which is released at the same time the seller is paid.
Ready to buy or sell a work?
Agree the terms, secure the funds, and release payment only once the work has been examined and approved.