Q&A
The first step is always a free consultation — simply send us several photographs of the piece (front, back, detail of the signature) by email or WhatsApp. Based on the photos, we will provide a preliminary valuation and recommend next steps within 48 hours.
A more precise appraisal requires a physical examination by a specialist in the particular artist. We arrange this as well — either at our gallery in Hradčany, Prague, or, for larger collections, we are happy to visit you in person.
Our commission is a flat 15 % of the hammer price — that is all we ask. No entry fees, no charges for unsold lots, no administrative surcharges.
For comparison: the standard seller's commission on the Czech auction market ranges between 18–25 %. Our 15 % rate is among the fairest in the industry.
Professional photography and cataloguing are included in our commission — at no additional cost to you.
After the auction, the buyer has 14 days to complete payment. Once we receive the funds, we promptly transfer your share — typically within three weeks of the auction day.
We will contact you by phone or email immediately after the sale with the result. You don't need to monitor the auction yourself — we always reach out first.
If the lot does not find a buyer at auction, you pay nothing — our commission is charged exclusively on completed sales. We will return the artwork to you in its original condition.
Together we then consider the next options: inclusion in a future auction, listing in our online sales gallery, or arranging a private sale. In any case, we guide you through the entire process.
Not at all. For owners of larger collections or oversized works, we are happy to arrange a discreet consultation at your location — no transport required. Simply agree on a date with us.
We can also arrange specialised art transport to our gallery if you prefer.
Yes, this is a standard part of our consignment agreement. Both the starting price and any reserve (minimum) price are agreed with you in advance — nothing happens without your explicit consent.
Our shared goal is to achieve the best possible result, so we provide expert guidance on pricing based on current market conditions and comparable realised sales.
Every piece passing through Galerie Weinberg is assessed by a specialist with expertise in the specific artist and period. We do not rely on a single generalist — for each case, we select an expert with a proven track record for the given author.
Our consulting network comprises 11 art historians, court-appointed experts and restorers affiliated with the National Gallery, the National Heritage Institute and the Czech Academy of Sciences. Among them is PhDr. Rea Michalová, Ph.D., a court expert appointed by the Municipal Court in Prague.
Where doubt persists, we proceed with technical analysis — UV fluorescence, infrared examination or pigment analysis. Any work whose authenticity cannot be established is excluded from the auction.
An older certificate is a valuable document, but it is not an absolute guarantee on its own. It is important to verify who issued it, whether the expert is a recognised authority on the given artist, and when it was produced.
Unfortunately, the Czech market has seen cases where certificates were issued by unqualified persons, or even forged entirely. That is why we always carry out our own assessment — regardless of existing documentation.
If you do have a certificate, please bring it along — it is a valuable part of the work's provenance and can significantly increase the final price.
Have doubts about the authenticity of a piece you own? Contact us — the first consultation is free.
On the Czech market, the most frequently forged works are by artists with high market value and, at the same time, complex documentation. We recommend particular caution with:
Jan Zrzavý — his works command high prices, and forgers know it.
Josef Čapek — drawings and prints are especially vulnerable to forgery.
Václav Špála — the vivid colours of his paintings attract imitators.
Kamil Lhoták — his signature themes are relatively easy to replicate stylistically.
Higher price = higher incentive to forge. For these artists, we always recommend technical analysis beyond a standard visual assessment.
Yes, we provide this service. Expert appraisals for insurance, estate proceedings or asset settlement are a standard part of our offering.
The appraisal is issued by an expert from our network of certified court-appointed specialists — its form and content meet the requirements of notaries, courts and insurance companies.
Pricing depends on the scope and complexity — contact us for a no-obligation quote.
Book a consultation →First of all, don't sell anything and don't throw anything away — even seemingly worthless items may have unexpected value. Second step: call us or send photographs by email.
We will carry out a comprehensive inventory of the collection — examining every piece, identifying artists, assessing condition and estimating value. Based on this, we will recommend what to offer at auction, what to sell privately, and what you might want to keep.
For larger collections, we are happy to visit you in person — discreetly and without obligation.
Yes, valuation of artwork for estate proceedings is possible even while the proceedings are underway — in practice, notaries very often require it. Simply arrange a consultation with us.
We issue an expert appraisal in a format that meets the formal requirements of notary offices and courts. The appraisal is prepared by a certified court-appointed expert from our network.
We cooperate with notaries across the Czech Republic. If your notary office has not worked with us before, we are happy to provide references.
The tax treatment depends on the specific circumstances — whether you are a natural or legal person, whether the activity is commercial or private, and how long you have owned the work.
As a general rule: income from an occasional sale of movable property (including artwork) by a private individual is exempt from income tax if it does not exceed CZK 50,000 per year. Above this threshold, the income must be reported in a tax return.
This is not tax advice — we always recommend consulting your specific situation with a qualified tax advisor. If needed, we can recommend professionals experienced with art sales.
Provenance research — verifying the origin and ownership history of a work — is a standard part of our preparation. We check every piece against available databases of confiscated, stolen and restituted artworks.
If there is any doubt about the clean provenance of a work, we will not include it in the auction until the situation is resolved. This protects both sellers and buyers.
If you are already aware of a complicated history, please let us know at the outset — it helps us set the right course and saves time for both sides.
Our auctions take place online via the Livebid platform, which allows you to bid from anywhere in real time — from home, from the office, from your phone. Registration is simple and free.
If you prefer to attend in person or bid by telephone, we are happy to arrange it. Contact us before the auction and we will agree on the method that suits you best.
Subscribe to the catalogue →A buyer's premium of 25 % including VAT is added to the hammer price. This premium is standard on both the Czech and international auction markets.
Example: you win a lot for CZK 100,000 — the total amount due is CZK 125,000. Estimate prices in the catalogue are always listed without the premium, so please factor this in when setting your bidding limit.
Yes, and we strongly encourage it. Before every auction, we hold a pre-auction exhibition at our gallery in Hradčany, Prague, where all lots are available for personal viewing.
Exhibition dates are announced in advance via our newsletter and Private List. Outside exhibition times, it is also possible to arrange an individual viewing of a specific work — contact us by email or phone.
The Private List is our closed circle of collectors and investors who receive access to select information before the general public. Specifically, this means:
Catalogue 48 hours early — time to study the lots and prepare your strategy without pressure.
Post-auction offers — you are the first to see unsold lots available at a pre-agreed price.
Off-cycle opportunities — works arriving outside the auction calendar, offered only to a narrow circle of clients.
Expert newsletter — market overviews, artist recommendations, commentary on auction results.
Once payment is received, you can collect the work in person at our gallery — always by prior arrangement. Until collection, the artwork is stored in secure premises.
We are happy to arrange specialised art transport on request — shipping costs are borne by the buyer. For international shipping, we recommend trusted partners.
Art as an asset class has distinctive characteristics that set it apart from equities or real estate: low correlation with financial markets, a physical nature, and aesthetic value that exists independently of financial return.
On the Czech market, there is sustained growth in demand for works by domestic modernists — Špála, Čapek, Lhoták, Filla — whose prices have risen significantly over the past twenty years. At the same time, these are assets with limited liquidity: selling takes longer than selling a security.
We recommend art as a complement to a diversified portfolio, not as a primary investment vehicle. An allocation of 5–15 % of a portfolio is a reasonable framework for most investors.
From an investment perspective, we distinguish two categories:
Established artists with a liquid market — Václav Špála, Josef Čapek, Kamil Lhoták, František Kupka, Josef Šíma. Their works appear regularly at auction, prices are more predictable and liquidity is higher. However, the entry price is also higher.
Undervalued figures with growth potential — artists of the mid- and younger modernist generation who are not yet in the spotlight of collectors. Here the potential for appreciation is greater, but so is the uncertainty.
Specific recommendations depend on your time horizon, investment size and risk appetite. We are happy to discuss this in person.
Disclaimer: past returns do not guarantee future returns. This is not investment advice.
This is the most important question every collector-investor should ask. The honest answer: art is less liquid than securities or real estate.
A realistic timeframe from the decision to sell to receiving payment is 6–12 weeks — encompassing consultation, preparation, inclusion in the nearest auction and payout after the sale. A private sale may be faster, but depends on the specific buyer.
Works by artists with an active market (Lhoták, Špála) sell more quickly than works by less sought-after artists. Condition and provenance have a critical impact on liquidity.
Each channel has its advantages. Auctions are transparent — the market sets the price, the result is public and comparable. They provide assurance that the price is not set unilaterally by the seller. The downside: the buyer's premium increases the total cost.
Private sales allow for a more discreet transaction, more flexible pricing and faster completion. Particularly suitable for works that, for various reasons, are not ideal for a public auction, or for clients who prefer absolute privacy.
We combine both approaches — it depends on the specific work, the seller's situation and the buyer's preferences. We are happy to walk you through the options at a personal consultation.