Acquisitions
TenCate Art actively acquires pre-1800 paintings, late mediaeval and Renaissance religious sculpture, reliquary caskets, devotional objects, rare books and illuminated manuscripts from private collections, heirs and fellow dealers across Europe.
Whether you have inherited a single panel, are dispersing a family cabinet or are a colleague offering a single object, we make confidential, fair offers based on attribution, condition and current market comparanda. Send photographs and what you know — we read every submission personally.
What we acquire
Our cabinet is built around four disciplines. Within each we are selective, but we read every well-documented submission.
Panels and canvases of the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque — Netherlandish, German, Italian, Spanish and French schools. Religious, mythological and portrait subjects. Honest condition preferred over campaign restoration.
Late mediaeval and early modern carved wood and stone sculpture — Madonnas, saints, Christ figures, Pietàs, altar fragments. Polychromed or stripped, fragmentary or complete.
Reliquary caskets, processional crosses, chalices, monstrances, pyxides, croziers, devotional ivories, enamels and objets de vertu of ecclesiastical use.
Mediaeval and Renaissance manuscripts, books of hours, single leaves and miniatures, incunabula and early printed books with significant content, illustration or binding.
Reach
We purchase from private sellers, estates and trade colleagues throughout Europe. Within the Benelux and Germany we travel to view works in person when warranted; elsewhere we work from photographs and condition reports, and arrange insured collection on agreement.
How it works
01
Send photographs (front, back, signature, marks, damages) and what you know of the work — origin, family history, prior valuations.
02
We research the attribution, study comparanda and assess condition. You receive a personal reply, usually within a few working days.
03
If the work fits the cabinet we make a confidential offer. In the Benelux and Germany we can travel to view in person; elsewhere we arrange insured shipment.
04
Payment is made on the day of collection or, for distance purchases, on receipt and verification of the work. Discretion throughout.
Submit a work
Use the form below to send photographs and the history of the piece. Everything is treated in confidence, with no obligation on your side.