Hello Art World! This is the fourteenth edition of the Johnsonese Brokerage Art & Antiques Insurance Newsletter. The goal of our newsletter is to provide useful information about insurance to individuals, businesses and non-profits involved with the fine and decorative arts, antiques and collectibles.
Fall is art season. Our small business can work quickly to review your insurance and find savings for you. Remember, you're never too busy to save some money!
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East Coast Earthquake should be an Insurance Wake-up Call |
 A 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled the East Coast in August. It also produced at least seven aftershocks. While the quake was mild by West Coast standards, it did crack the Washington Monument and damage the main tower of the National Cathedral. Homeowners in Virginia also reported overturned furniture, broken windows and cracked foundations.
This event should serve as an insurance wake-up call to people who live outside of the West Coast regarding earthquake coverage. Earthquakes can happen anywhere, and even minor shaking can do major damage to fragile artworks and antiques.
It may be time to review your inventory coverage to be certain that earthquake coverage is included. Many standard business owner's policies exclude earthquake coverage. You may need to move your art/ antiques/ collectibles coverage to a specialist insurer in order to get this coverage.
You may also want to review how items are hung and secured to improve their chances of surviving a minor shake.
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Basic Checklist for Disaster-Prepping Your Studio/Workspace | |
While we're on the subject of disasters, Chicago Artists Resource (CAR) recently provided a checklist for preparing your art studio or workspace for disasters. The list provides tips for prepping for:
- High Winds/ Hurricanes/ Tornados
- Floods
- Earthquakes
- Wildfires
- Fires
Here are some example tips:
- Be sure that any trees and shrubs close to your home are well-trimmed--remove all dead and hanging wood.
- Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up.
- Use museum wax to secure smaller objects to shelves.
- Remove debris from locations close to structures.
- Clean out storage areas--do not let trash accumulate.
Click here for the full checklist from CAR.
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Distractions Aid Art Thieves | |
A recent article discussed how a nearby distraction can help art criminals ply their trade.
On December 31, 1999, during the fireworks celebration for the millennium, a thief broke into the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England. They got away with a Cezanne landscape that was valued at close to $10 million.
In 2003, at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Benvenuto Cellini's Saliera was stolen with the help of scaffolding that covered the area due to reconstruction. Austrian police recovered it three years later.
In Rio de Janeiro, a blocked view was again used for a theft, this time from the Museu da Chacara do Ceu. A carnival parade was passing by the museum in 2006 when thieves made their break in and disappeared in the crowd. The paintings haven't been recovered, and they include a Salvador Dali, Picasso, Matisse, and Monet.
-SanDiego.com, July 21, 2011
The lesson here is to be aware of your surroundings. Periodically get out and walk around your block to make certain that nothing is happening behind your business or in a nearby alley or construction site that could pose a problem. If you see a potential threat, take some pre-cautions such as upgrading your alarm system or hiring temporary security.
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Gallery Just Another Target to Small Town Thieves |
Someone broke into the Penn Cove Gallery in Coupeville, WA the night of August 2nd and made off with about 200 pieces of art. Police said the gallery was one of six businesses hit that night, all located within a few blocks of downtown. Other victims were a florist, a design shop, a nursery, a glassware store and a toy store. The heists stunned the residents of the small town of Coupeville.
About $25,000 worth of artworks by nine local artists were stolen from the gallery. The most expensive work taken was a mask valued at $4,500.
-Everett, Washington Herald, August 9, 2011
I hear all the time that artworks by emerging contemporary artists do not tempt thieves because there is no re-sale market for them. But as this article demonstrates, this simply isn't true. Maybe the thieves didn't know what they were stealing in this case, but the gallery is still on the hook for $25,000. That could be a devastating blow to a small gallery that doesn't have proper insurance coverage.
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Tips for the Fall/ Holiday Party Season | |
I'm on the board of a small non-profit in Chicago and we just had a discussion about our annual holiday party. So I guess it's not too early to post these party planning tips.
If you're planning a holiday party that might include alcohol, here are some suggestions to reduce your risk:
- Familiarize yourself with your state's host liquor laws.
- Consider hosting your party at a restaurant or bar that has a liquor license, rather than in your home of office.
- Limit your guest list to people that you know.
- Provide filling food for guests and alternative non-alcoholic beverages.
- Schedule entertainment or activities that do not involve alcohol.
- Arrange transportation or overnight accommodations for those who should not drive.
- Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is scheduled to end.
- Do not serve guests who are visibly intoxicated.
-Independent Agent Magazine, August 1, 2011
If you rent your space for private parties, you may want to give these tips to your renters as well.
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The Johnsonese Brokerage can assist you with most of your art insurance needs. To get started immediately call 773.857.0242 or Email info@johnsonese.com. Thanks for reading our newsletter, Christopher Johnson |
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About the Johnsonese Brokerage | |
The Johnsonese Brokerage LLC is a licensed and bonded independent insurance agency focused on insuring the creative community.
We are licensed in the states of Arizona, California (license #0H55862), Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
Who we insure:
- Creative Businesses
- Art Galleries & Consultants
- Antique Dealers
- Appraisers & Conservators
- Artists
- Book & Manuscript Dealers
- Photographers
- Framers
- Furniture & Design Dealers
- Art & Antique Fairs
- Cultural Institutions
- Museums
- Libraries & Archives
- Historical Societies
- Non-Profit Art Galleries
- Monuments
- Historic Buildings
- Collectors
- Corporate Collections
- Art Collectors
- Antique Collectors
- Book & Manuscript Collectors
- Stamp & Coin Collectors
- Sport Memorabilia
- Classic Cars
- Wine Collections
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Common Insurance Terms
1. Insurance Fraud
Knowingly, and with intent to defraud, providing materially false information to, or concealing a material fact from, an insurance provider
2. Underwriter
An insurance company employee who evaluates risk and sets or approves premiums for clients
3. Civil Authority
Actions by government entities, such as police and fire departments, including curfews, evacutions and restricted access
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New Business Name in California
Effective immediately we are doing business under a new name in California. Due to state insurance regulations, in California we do business as "Johnsonese Insurance Agency LLC"
We provide the same services in California as we do in the other states where we operate as "Johnsonese Brokerage LLC".
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Our Business Partners
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AmWins -
AXA -
Chubb -
CNA -
Hartford -
Insurance Noodle -
Markel -
Philadelphia -
Risk Placement Services
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We Appreciate Referrals!
As a service business, referrals are our biggest source of new clients.
If you know of any other organization needing insurance, please let us know. We promise to give them the same personal and professional service that you've come to expect from the Johnsonese Brokerage. |
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