The service that has ‘discovered’ a Claude Monet painting valued at £1.5m, a Medieval chastity belt valued at £2,000, a mid 19th-century golf ball valued at £20,000, and a request to value a mother-in-law, is the latest acquisition by Barnebys, the world’s leading search engine for art and collectibles.
Image: Pontus Silfverstolpe (left) and Christopher Barnekow (right), the two founders of Barnebys
Sweden’s Barnebys Group, announced this week that it has acquired ValueMyStuff the best online art and collectables valuation service in the world.
The service that has ‘discovered’ a Claude Monet painting valued at £1.5m, a Medieval chastity belt valued at £2,000, a mid 19th-century golf ball valued at £20,000, and a request to value a mother-in-law, is the latest acquisition by Barnebys, the world’s leading search engine for art and collectibles.
Pontus Silfverstolpe (left) and Christopher Barnekow (right), the two founders of Barnebys
Christopher Barnekow, CEO and Founder of Barnebys. Says: ”Our vision is to lower the entry barriers to this fantastic market, making it easier for the users to get knowledge and market oversight as well as for the auction houses or art and antiques dealers to reach new and greater customer groups. The acquisition of ValueMyStuff is an important step in securing our service offer, as reliable and independent valuations are fundamental for the market to work.”
This is a unique opportunity to further strengthen one of the key components in Barnebys eco-system, providing a service for every user in the market. Barnebys offer provides an overview on the market, an archive with 80 million sold items sorted in the same categories, as well as online and individual and independent appraisals. The information can be used in preparation of sales, for insurance purposes or as financial securities. The Barnebys service also assists with one of the most challenging parts of the auction houses basic business – getting consignments and the promoting the inflow of objects for sale.
“We see growing need from individuals as well as from auction houses around the world wanting easy and quick valuations for their items by competent experts. Art market reports in the press show that currently under 5% of people use auctions to trade in the secondary market. We expect that figure to double within the next ten years”, says Christopher Barnekow.
Patrick van der Vorst
Patrick van der Vorst, CEO of ValueMyStuff comments: ”I am delighted that Barnebys has acquired ValueMyStuff. I have been watching the rise of Barnebys in the art space over the past seven years and am very pleased to be a shareholder in their company and to assist them in an advisory capacity going forward.”
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
ArtDependence Magazine is an international magazine covering all spheres of contemporary art, as well as modern and classical art.
ArtDependence features the latest art news, highlighting interviews with today’s most influential artists, galleries, curators, collectors, fair directors and individuals at the axis of the arts.
The magazine also covers series of articles and reviews on critical art events, new publications and other foremost happenings in the art world.
If you would like to submit events or editorial content to ArtDependence Magazine, please feel free to reach the magazine via the contact page.
