Artiphile

Profile

ABOUT ARTIPHILE

Maura Kehoe Collins founded Artiphile in 1991 as an independent art advisory specializing in art collections management, specifically to promote the conscientious stewardship of cultural property in private hands. Buying, owning, selling and gifting works of art has become increasingly complex in a global marketplace. Working with a neutral, third-party advisor is valuable; Artiphile advocates only for their clients and the works of art.

Artiphile delivers bespoke art collections management services with discretion. Their method of inventory, assessment and administration aims to identify and address all physical and practical needs of a collection. No matter size, media or period—art collections require administration and thoughtful stewardship to maintain integrity and value. Project partners are called upon when their expertise is needed; fine art conservation, framing, appraisal, insurance, shipping and packing, as well as specialty practices of art secured lending providers and art law.

With decades of experience in conservation, research and museum administration, both Maura Kehoe Collins and her partner, Sara Madeleine Henderson, shifted their career focus in order to provide museum standards for the care and maintenance of private collections.

Private clients remain anonymous. Select public clients include The Estate of Arthur M. Sackler, The Estates of Nancy Spero & Leon Golub, The Estate of John Steptoe for The National African American Museum Project of the Smithsonian Institution, The Oyster Ponds Historical Society (pro bono), the Tom Otterness Studio, and the National Academy Museum & School, New York.

SERVICES

Artiphile may be contracted to provide a basic collections management program and/or address specific collections management problems on a project basis. Proposals are tailored to the needs of each client; no collection is too big or too small. An Artiphile collections management program may include:

Complete inventory at all locations

Registration

Cataloguing

Database creation and maintenance

Photo-documentation

Review, collate and digitize all paper records

Logistics and installations

Environmental protections

Pre-purchase due diligence

Prioritize conservation & framing needs

Loan administration and courier services

Discrepancies between physical inventory and paper records researched and reconciled

Create object files and digital archives of documents and photographs

Full condition survey with dated baseline condition reports & maintenance plan

Design custom catalogue books, reports, & websites

Liaise with your lawyers, accountants, advisors, and family offices as needed.

Source and vet proposals for conservation treatments, framing, shipping and storage, appraisals & insurance, as well as art financial advisors, and specialty practitioners of art financing, art law and much more…

Artiphile can liaise with lawyers, wealth managers, financial advisors, appraisers, and other fiduciaries regarding succession planning, philanthropy, gifts, trust, sale, etc.

Both Maura and Sara are available to give presentations on the topic of care and management for art collections. Visit the Artiphile website for biographical information about Maura Kehoe Collins and Sara Madeleine Henderson.

Inquiry Form

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