What private sourcing is
Private sourcing is a written research process. A reader describes something specific — a Steinway Model B in Europe; a French 19th-century violin around a certain budget; a painting for a room with a particular light — and the desk researches through the makers, dealers, luthiers, galleries and private owners it knows.
The output is a written note. Where an introduction is appropriate, it is arranged in writing, with provenance disclosed up front.
What it is not
- A brokerage. The desk does not hold inventory, does not take title, and does not run auctions.
- A subscription. There is no membership, no login, and no gated content on this site.
- A guarantee. If we cannot find the right piece honestly, we say so.
The kind of brief that works
The more specific the description, the more useful the research. A brief that says "a violin" is difficult to answer. A brief that says "a French 19th-century violin under a stated budget, for an adult amateur who plays chamber music twice a week, based in Madrid" is a brief the desk can actually work with.
See the current process on the Sourcing Brief page.