And pound wiser. Cut your transaction costs
Art: It’s a long-term and illiquid investment. You incur huge transaction costs both while buying and selling. We recommend that you take the direct route in this one. If you can buy straight from the artist, nothing like it. When you can’t, get yourself a curator to help you select the artist. Galleries typically charge a mark-up of 25-30 percent on each painting. Curators can bargain it down for you.
(This story appears in the 22 January, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)