Important Questions
Prices
What do the sculptures cost?
Prices are based on the current silver price and therefore vary daily. All information on the website is provided for reference only. A complete overview of these reference prices is available here. We will be happy to provide you with the exact and binding selling price upon request.
How is the price of a sculpture calculated?
The basis is the current price for 999 fine silver. As a rule of thumb: the sale price is at most twice the pure material value.
Is the stated weight always exact?
No. Because every sculpture is cast individually using the lost-wax process and finished by hand, slight deviations from the target weight occur. The exact weight of a piece in stock will be given on request.
Purchase & Ordering
How can I buy a sculpture?
Prospective buyers send an enquiry via the contact form or by telephone on 089 / 33 55 01. We then send an offer with the current price. Once you have agreed to it, an invoice or purchase confirmation follows. The sculpture is dispatched as soon as payment has been received.
Can I see a sculpture in person before I buy?
We are glad to arrange a personal appointment in München. Please use our contact form to do so. We also appear regularly at precious metal and art fairs throughout Germany. You will find the current dates here. If you would like to see a particular piece at a fair, please let us know in advance.
Are the sculptures numbered and certified?
Yes. Every sculpture is stamped by the foundry and by BullionArt and numbered according to the edition. Each sculpture also comes with a certificate of authenticity.
What does the edition number on the sculpture mean?
The edition number shows which piece of an edition you have, for example “3/9” in an edition of 9 pieces. The first figure denotes the individual piece, the second the total edition. It documents the rarity of the work and, together with the artist’s signature, the foundry stamp and the BullionArt certificate, forms part of the authenticity documentation.
Shipping & Delivery
How are the sculptures shipped?
Within Germany we ship as an insured high-value parcel. Collection in person by prior arrangement is also possible.
Do you deliver abroad?
For information on deliveries abroad, it is best to enquire directly by email at silber@bullion-art.de.
Material & Production
What silver are the sculptures made of?
All sculptures are made of 999 fine silver. We work exclusively with bars from producers such as Degussa, Heraeus, Argor or Umicore.
What is the difference between fine silver and sterling silver?
Fine silver has a purity of 999/1000, that is 99.9% pure silver. Sterling silver has a purity of 925/1000 and contains 7.5% copper, which makes the alloy harder and less prone to scratching, but reduces the silver content. BullionArt uses exclusively 999 fine silver, the same standard that applies to investment bars from international refineries.
What is the difference between solid silver casting and hollow silver casting?
With solid casting the sculpture is cast entirely from fine silver; hollow casting produces a lighter work with a hollow interior. The weight, and with it the material value, differ considerably.
How are the sculptures made?
The sculptures are created using the lost-wax process: a silicone mould is taken from a hand-made model. Wax is poured into this mould, the wax model is embedded in refractory material and the wax is melted out. Molten fine silver is poured into the cavity that remains. Once it has set, the work is released, finished by hand, numbered and stamped.
How many pieces of a sculpture are made?
The edition varies from work to work and is set by the artist. Examples: Wächter (Mogambo Guru) 9 pieces, Bulle & Bär (Raimund Schmelter) 30 pieces each. Once an edition has sold out, the mould is destroyed. No further piece can then be cast. The exact edition size is stated on the relevant detail page in the art catalogue.
Increase in Value & Pricing
Can a BullionArt silver sculpture rise in value?
Yes, through two independent factors: the silver price and the collector’s value. The collector’s value rises when the artist becomes better known and the edition is sold out. You will find concrete examples and calculation models here.
What return can be expected from BullionArt silver sculptures?
There is no blanket answer, because nobody knows the future. Silver is a finite raw material with high industrial demand worldwide, which argues for a stable basis of value in the long term. In the best case the collector’s value rises as well: the artist becomes better known, the edition sells out, and the silver price and the artistic value develop favourably at the same time. One example is the Schlafvogel (Mogambo Guru), which was sold for 2,400 euros in 2005 and twenty years later had reached a value of more than 10,000 euros. In the middle scenario, the development in value is guided above all by the silver price. Looking back, an increase in value of around 30 per cent would have been plausible over the past ten years on the basis of the silver price alone, which corresponds to an annual return of two to three per cent. In the least favourable case, the silver price stagnates or falls and the artistic value does not develop. Even so, the material value always remains as a lower limit: the sculpture can be resold at any time for at least the current silver price. A total loss is therefore practically impossible.
Are BullionArt silver sculptures an alternative to coins or bars?
That depends on your investment goal. Coins and bars are standardised products that follow the silver spot price closely and are very easy to trade. Silver sculptures offer the same material value, as they are made of the same 999 fine silver, but in addition a collector’s value which, with sold-out editions and well-known artists, can go beyond the pure silver price.
Resale
Why are BullionArt silver sculptures liquid?
BullionArt silver sculptures are considerably more liquid than conventional works of art, because the material value can be determined daily on international exchanges. If need be, a sculpture can be sold to a precious metals dealer at any time at the current silver price. Explained in detail here.
How can I resell a BullionArt sculpture?
Precious metals dealers allow a quick sale, but pay only the material value. Specialist art dealers also take the collector’s value into account and are the better choice for high-value works. Auction houses often achieve the highest prices, but require several months’ lead time and charge a commission of 15 to 25%. Collectors’ forums allow a direct sale without fees, but require more effort on your part.
Do I have to pay tax on a resale?
Anyone who sells a silver sculpture after a holding period of at least one year generally pays no income tax on the profit in Germany. If it is sold within the first year after purchase, however, any profit made is taxable as other income. In individual cases we recommend consulting a tax adviser.
Care & Storage
Why are some sculptures light and others dark?
That is a deliberate artistic decision. Dark sculptures are given a dark patina and keep this surface permanently. Light sculptures retain the natural silver surface and are sealed with a protective wax.
Do BullionArt silver sculptures need regular care?
That depends on the surface. Dark sculptures need no care, as the blackening is permanent. Light sculptures can tarnish over time and turn slightly yellow or dark. In this case a simple treatment is usually enough. You will find detailed advice here.
My sculpture has turned yellow, what should I do?
A slight yellow cast is normal tarnishing caused by oxidation in the air. It can easily be removed with a dry microfibre cloth. If the tarnishing is a little stronger, a special silver care product (e.g. Silber Intensiv Pflege by Polyboy) or pre-impregnated silver polishing cloths will help. Afterwards it is advisable to apply Renaissance Wax to protect the surface against tarnishing again.
My sculpture has turned dark, what should I do?
For stronger discolouration, Elsterglanz silver polishing paste is the first thing to try: it cleans thoroughly and gives the sculpture back its shine. If the silver has already tarnished almost black, boiling it with aluminium foil in salt water is advisable: fill a pan with salt water, line the base with aluminium foil, place the sculpture in it and heat. The electrochemical reaction dissolves the silver sulphide. Afterwards it is advisable to apply Renaissance Wax to protect light sculptures against tarnishing again.
Does fine silver tarnish?
Yes. Silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air and over time forms silver sulphide, which is visible as a dark discolouration. This is a normal chemical process. Whether and how quickly a sculpture tarnishes depends on the room air and on the surface treatment.
What should I avoid when caring for it?
Do not use aggressive chemicals or abrasive cleaners. Avoid contact with perfume, hairspray and chlorinated water. Do not store silver together with other metals, as friction and chemical reactions can cause damage.
How do I store a BullionArt silver sculpture?
The sculptures do not need to be locked away or specially secured. They can simply be put on display, on a sideboard, in a cabinet or as an accent in the room. If you wish to store the sculpture for a time, wrap it in a clean cotton cloth and place it in a dark, dry cupboard. Special silver storage bags are not necessary and in most cases simply superfluous. Do not store together with other metals.
Artworks & Artists
Which sculptures are in the range?
All available and sold-out works, with photographs, weight and price, can be found here.
Which artists work with BullionArt?
We work with a selected group of artists. You will find all of them, with portraits and overviews of their work, here.
How large and how heavy are the sculptures?
That varies from work to work. Exact details of weight and dimensions can be found on the detail pages in the art catalogue.