Terms of Use

Agreement and eligibility

These Terms of Use form a binding agreement between you and ArtVault concerning your access to our websites, applications, auctions, marketplace, content, and related services. References to “ArtVault,” “we,” “us,” or “our” mean the ArtVault entity operating the relevant service.

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering a binding contract. If you use ArtVault for a company or another person, you confirm that you have authority to bind them to these Terms.

Accounts and verification

You must provide accurate, current information and keep your login credentials confidential. You are responsible for activity performed through your account unless you promptly report unauthorized access.

• We may request identity, payment, address, or source-of-funds verification.
• You may not create an account using false information or on behalf of a prohibited person.
• We may limit account features until required verification is complete.

Auctions and bidding

A bid is a binding offer to purchase the lot at the amount submitted. The highest accepted bidder at closing is obligated to complete the purchase, subject to any reserve, auction-specific conditions, and applicable law.

We may reject, cancel, or reverse bids affected by obvious errors, suspected manipulation, technical disruption, sanctions screening, or breach of these Terms. Auction timing may be extended to accommodate late bids or service interruptions.

Marketplace purchases

For fixed-price products, your order is an offer to purchase. An order becomes accepted when we send an order confirmation. Product availability, color, scale, framing, and edition details are described as accurately as reasonably possible, but screens and photography can create differences in appearance.

We may cancel and refund an order if an item is unavailable, incorrectly priced, subject to a compliance restriction, or affected by a material listing error.

Sellers, artists, and consignors

A seller represents that they own or are authorized to sell each submitted work; the listing information is complete and accurate; and the work is free from undisclosed liens, claims, restrictions, or intellectual-property conflicts.

Separate consignment or seller terms may apply. If those terms conflict with this document regarding a sale, the specific seller or consignment agreement controls.

Prices, fees, taxes, and payment

Prices may exclude buyer’s premiums, sales or use taxes, duties, shipping, insurance, and other disclosed charges. You authorize us and our payment providers to charge your selected method for amounts due.

• Payments must be made in the displayed currency unless we agree otherwise.
• You are responsible for bank charges, conversion costs, and legally applicable taxes.
• Late or failed payments may result in order cancellation, account restriction, and recovery costs permitted by law.

Condition, provenance, and authenticity

Condition reports and provenance information are provided in good faith and may reflect professional opinion rather than certainty. Age, previous restoration, artist materials, and normal wear may affect a work’s condition.

Any authenticity guarantee applies only where expressly stated and remains subject to its disclosed scope, claim period, required evidence, and exclusions.

Shipping, risk, and returns

Delivery dates are estimates. Title and risk transfer as stated in the applicable listing, invoice, or shipping terms. You must inspect deliveries promptly and report visible loss or damage with supporting photographs and packaging evidence.

Returns are available only where stated in the listing or required by law. Auction lots, personalized products, commissioned works, and custom framing may be final sale.

Acceptable use and intellectual property

You may not interfere with the service, scrape restricted data, manipulate auctions, bypass security, upload unlawful content, impersonate others, or use ArtVault to facilitate fraud, money laundering, sanctions evasion, or infringement.

ArtVault’s software, design, trademarks, editorial content, and compilation are protected by intellectual-property laws. Artwork images and artist materials may be owned by artists, galleries, licensors, or ArtVault and may not be commercially reused without permission.

Disclaimers and limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by law, the services are provided on an “as available” basis. ArtVault is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, lost profits, lost opportunity, or loss caused by events outside our reasonable control.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be limited, including rights available to consumers under mandatory law.

Suspension, governing law, and changes

We may suspend or close an account when reasonably necessary to protect users, comply with law, investigate misuse, or enforce these Terms. The governing law and forum are those stated in your transaction documents or, where none are stated, the laws and courts of New York, subject to mandatory consumer protections.

We may update these Terms. Material changes will be posted with a new effective date and, where appropriate, communicated through your account or email.

Contact us

Questions about these Terms or a specific transaction can be sent to our support team.