Frequently Asked Questions

Purchasing & Payment

  • Every item on this site is listed with a price and available for direct purchase. If you have questions about condition, provenance, additional photographs, or anything else, you're welcome to reach me directly at mark@markblackburnart.com I read every message personally and usually respond within 24 hours.

  • I accept major credit cards, PayPal, and wire transfer. For significant purchases, wire transfer is preferred. Payment details are provided at the time of sale.

  • For substantial purchases, I'm open to discussing arrangements on a case-by-case basis. Reach me at mark@markblackburnart.com

  • I'm a private dealer, not a retail operation, and I'm always willing to have a conversation. Write to me at mark@markblackburnart.com

Shipping & Delivery

  • Yes, we ship worldwide. Shipping and insurance are both included in every purchase. Contact me at mark@markblackburnart.com if you have any questions.

  • Every piece is packed by hand with materials appropriate to its fragility, age, and dimensions. Tribal, Pre-Columbian, and Oceanic works require individualized packing. A ceramic figurine from West Mexico ships very differently than a Polynesian textile or a carved Hawaiian implement. I have been doing this for over forty years and I take packing seriously. Objects that have survived centuries are not going to be compromised on my watch.

  • Domestic shipments (within the United States) typically arrive within 3–7 business days. International shipments generally take 7–21 business days depending on destination and customs processing. I provide tracking information as soon as your package ships and will communicate any known delays.

  • Shipping is included in the listed price, worldwide along with insurance. There are no surprises.

  • Yes. I provide all necessary export documentation and accurately declare contents and value. Import duties, taxes, or fees assessed by your country's customs authority are the responsibility of the buyer. Like I’ve mentioned, shipping itself is included in the price. Where they apply, are levied by your government, not by me. Questions about what to expect for your country? Write to mark@markblackburnart.com

Insurance & Transit Damage

  • Yes. Every shipment is fully insured for its declared sale value. I do not ship uninsured pieces. The objects I handle are irreplaceable.

  • It is rare, but it happens. If your piece arrives damaged:

    Do not discard any packing materials.

    Photograph the damage to both the object and the packaging before moving anything.

    Contact me at mark@markblackburnart.com.

    I will initiate a claim with the carrier and insurer on your behalf. I have never walked away from a damaged shipment problem and I don't intend to start.

Returns & Condition

  • I stand behind every piece I sell. If an item arrives and is materially not as described in condition, authenticity, or provenance, I will accept a return and issue a full refund. Contact me within seven days of receipt at mark@markblackburnart.com

    Returns are not accepted for buyer's remorse or for pieces accurately described. I provide detailed condition notes on every listing and am happy to answer questions before you purchase. If something is uncertain, ask — I would rather answer ten questions and earn your confidence than have a dissatisfied buyer.

  • Every listing includes a condition description. I describe pieces as I find them: age-appropriate wear is noted, restoration is disclosed, and structural issues are called out clearly. I am a Senior Certified Appraiser with decades of appraisal work for institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Bishop Museum Honolulu. Condition assessment is something I do carefully and honestly.

Authenticity & Provenance

  • How do I know a piece is authentic? Every piece I sell has been personally examined and authenticated by me. I have been acquiring, selling, and appraising tribal, Pre-Columbian, Native American, Oceanic, and Hawaiian art for over forty years. I have authored 8 books in these fields and have appraised collection pieces for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bishop Museum, and Mission Houses of Hawaii. My reputation is built on the integrity of what I sell — I do not offer pieces I cannot stand behind.

  • Provenance documentation varies by piece and collection history. Where documentation exists, I share it. Where it doesn't, I say so. Many important older works entered collections before the era of systematic documentation — absence of a paper trail is not the same as absence of history, and I will always give you the fullest picture I have.

  • No. I am familiar with and compliant with applicable cultural property laws, including NAGPRA for Native American material. If a piece has any legal or repatriation considerations, that information is disclosed.

Appraisals

  • Yes. I am a Senior Certified Appraiser with experience appraising collections for major institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bishop Museum Honolulu, and Mission Houses of Hawaii. I provide appraisals for insurance, estate, donation, and fair market value purposes. Write to mark@markblackburnart.com to discuss your needs.

General

  • I’m located in Marfa, Texas.

  • Subscribe to my newsletter. I send one substantive update per month covering new acquisitions, field notes, and upcoming appearances. You can sign up at the bottom of any page.

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  • Yes, selectively. I am always interested in significant works in my areas of specialty. Send photographs and whatever you know about the piece's history to mark@markblackburnart.com and I'll give you an honest assessment.