You keep ownership of the painting while the gallery offers it to its collectors on your behalf. You are paid after it sells, on terms agreed in writing beforehand.

Is it better to sell my Edgar Payne at auction or to a dealer?

It depends on the painting, your timetable and how much certainty and privacy you want. Auction is public and the result is not known in advance; a direct sale to a dealer is private and the price is agreed up front; consignment sits in between. We will tell you honestly which route suits your painting, even when that is not a sale through us.

Can I consign more than one painting or a whole estate?

Yes. The gallery works with estates and collections that include several artists, and can advise on timing and approach.

Your options

Consign or sell an Edgar Payne painting

Every route starts with a free evaluation, and when we buy, we pay top dollar. There are four common ways to sell a painting by Edgar Payne. Each has trade-offs in speed, certainty, privacy and cost. Steven Stern Fine Arts offers the first three and will advise you on the fourth.

1. Outright purchase

The gallery buys the painting from you directly. The price is agreed before anything happens, the sale is private, and you are paid once the painting changes hands. It is the most certain and usually the quickest route.

2. Consignment

You keep ownership while the gallery offers the painting to its collectors. Terms, including the asking price and the gallery's commission, are agreed in writing first, and you are paid after it sells. Consignment can make sense for an important painting when there is time to find the right buyer.

3. Private sale and advice

For major paintings and whole collections, the gallery advises on timing and approach and can handle a private placement. Your name and the price are not published.

4. Auction

Most Payne paintings that come to auction are sold by houses such as Bonhams, Coeur d'Alene Art Auction, Christie's and Scottsdale Art Auction. At auction, the house charges the seller a commission and the buyer a premium, a reserve protects against a low result, and payment follows the sale, often weeks or months after consignment. The result is public. For some paintings it is the right choice, and we will say so.

At a glance

Route	Price known in advance?	Private?	Timing
Outright purchase	Yes	Yes	Usually fastest
Consignment	Asking price agreed	Yes	Until a buyer is found
Private sale	Negotiated	Yes	Varies
Auction	Estimate and reserve only	No, results are public	Set by the sale calendar

Whichever route you choose, start with good photographs and the size. See what affects value and Payne paintings the gallery has sold.

Get a free evaluation Call (310) 570-5679

Common questions

What is consignment?: You keep ownership of the painting while the gallery offers it to its collectors on your behalf. You are paid after it sells, on terms agreed in writing beforehand.
Is it better to sell my Edgar Payne at auction or to a dealer?: It depends on the painting, your timetable and how much certainty and privacy you want. Auction is public and the result is not known in advance; a direct sale to a dealer is private and the price is agreed up front; consignment sits in between. We will tell you honestly which route suits your painting, even when that is not a sale through us.
Can I consign more than one painting or a whole estate?: Yes. The gallery works with estates and collections that include several artists, and can advise on timing and approach.