Insuring a Work of Art Bought in Dakar

To insure a work of art bought in Dakar, keep the invoice and the certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, photograph the piece, note its title, technique and dimensions, then declare it to your home insurer with a declared or agreed value. This advice is general: it names no insurer and quotes no amount, and applies to any work, whether bought at a gallery in Dakar or elsewhere.

Keeping the right documents

The first step, before even thinking about a policy, is to put together a full file on the work: the purchase invoice, the certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, and a precise description, title, year, technique and dimensions. This file becomes the basis for any later declaration. Certificate of authenticity for a work of art covers what this document should contain and why it matters beyond insurance, for resale and transport too.

Photographing the work

Photographs taken from several angles, in good light, usefully round out the file. They prove the condition of the work at the time of purchase, a valuable reference if there is ever damage or a dispute later on. It is worth retaking these photographs after any transport or move, to compare the condition before and after.

Declaring the work to your home insurer

Once the file is ready, the next step is to contact your home insurer to find out how to declare an item of value. Two approaches are most common: a declared value, set by the buyer based on the price paid, or an agreed value, confirmed in advance by the insurer, sometimes after an appraisal. Every insurer applies its own rules and thresholds, so check directly with yours to find the approach that suits your situation.

What about transport

If the work needs to travel, for instance shipped out of Dakar after a gallery purchase, the journey itself carries a separate risk from keeping the work at home. Transport insurance, often offered at the time of a shipping quote, usually covers damage and loss during the journey. Shipping artwork from Dakar covers packing, the documents to keep and how to prepare a shipping quote.

Protecting the work at home

A well-insured work is also a well-kept one. Avoiding direct sunlight, watching for swings in humidity and dusting regularly without cleaning products all reduce the everyday risk of damage, regardless of any policy. Caring for paintings in a humid climate covers these precautions, useful under a climate such as Dakar's.

Updating the file over time

A work's value can shift, up or down, depending on the artist's market. It is worth reviewing your declaration with your insurer from time to time, especially if the work has gained recognition or if more of the artist's pieces have sold since. Keeping a record of these developments, press mentions or catalogues, helps support a revised declared value if needed.

If something happens

If damage or loss occurs, the first steps are to document the situation with photographs, report the incident to the insurer within the time limits set by the policy, and gather the file put together beforehand: invoice, certificate, photographs taken before the incident. The more complete this file, the easier the claim is to process.

A work hung in an office or a professional space

A work bought for an office, an embassy or a company space usually falls under business insurance rather than home insurance. The logic stays similar, a declared or agreed value, a file with an invoice and a certificate, but the policies and thresholds differ from one insurer to another depending on whether the client is an individual or an organisation. Here too, the best approach is to ask the insurer directly rather than assume the terms of a personal policy carry over without change.

A question worth asking before buying

For anyone considering a work of real value, it can help to check with an insurer before even visiting the gallery, to find out which supporting documents will be requested and within what timeframe a declaration must be made after a purchase. Planning this ahead avoids having to pull together a file in a hurry once the work has already been chosen.

Buying a work at Ge'eza's gallery

Works at Ge'eza's gallery, in Point E, can be viewed during the restaurant's hours, Tuesday to Sunday, 8am to 10pm. Every work sold comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist, payment is made by Wave, Orange Money, card or in person, and the price is shared on request from the page of the chosen work. For any question about a specific piece, a message on WhatsApp at +221 78 660 07 07 or an email to geezacultures@gmail.com is the most direct way to get an answer.