Art investment, advisory, and art-secured lending
London, London
Upon request
Founded 2000
About The Fine Art Group
One of the largest independent art advisory firms globally, offering acquisition advisory, collection management, and art-backed financing with $500M+ in lending capacity.
Known For
- Founded in 2000 by Philip Hoffman, a former Christie's finance director, initially as an art investment fund manager
- Art-secured lending with reported capacity above USD 500 million, alongside advisory, valuation and collection management
- Independent of auction houses and galleries, acting for buyers and sellers on a fee basis across Old Masters to contemporary
- Offices in London, New York, Hong Kong and other centres, serving private collectors, family offices and trusts
Typical Mandate
The Fine Art Group is engaged by collectors and family offices that treat art as a financial asset as well as a passion: they want independent valuations, a considered acquisition strategy and, often, liquidity against works they intend to keep. Mandates include advising on single purchases in the seven and eight figures, negotiating auction guarantees or private sales, appraising collections for estate and insurance purposes, and structuring loans secured on art. Trustees and executors also instruct the firm on sales of inherited collections.
How to Engage
Introductions usually come through private banks, lawyers or existing clients, although the firm accepts direct inquiries through its website and its London or New York offices. For advisory, prepare an inventory of the collection with provenance and prior valuations; for lending, the firm will need to appraise the works and confirm clean title. Engagements are documented in a fee-based agreement, with lending terms set out separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Fine Art Group an auction house or an adviser?
It is an independent adviser and lender, not an auction house. The firm does not sell works from its own inventory; it advises clients on buying and selling through auction houses, dealers and private channels, and it provides loans secured against art. Its independence from sellers is its stated proposition.
How large are The Fine Art Group's art loans?
The firm has publicly referred to lending capacity of more than USD 500 million. Individual loans commonly start in the low millions and are secured on works or groups of works with established auction records; loan-to-value ratios are typically conservative, often around half of appraised value.
Does The Fine Art Group provide valuations for insurance and estates?
Yes. Valuation is a core service: the firm appraises single works and entire collections for insurance, probate, tax planning, divorce and collateral purposes, and it is regularly instructed by trustees and executors on inherited collections.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Curated by Trophy Registry from public sources and industry references.
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www.fineartgroup.com
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