London-headquartered multi family office Stonehage Fleming has purchased OmniArte, a Zurich based art management and advisory business.
With this acquisition, Stonehage Fleming expands its art management division which manages art collections since 2007.
Following the purchase, Maria de Peverelli has been appointed executive chairman of the art management division.
In this newly created role, she will work with Georgina Hepburne Scott, head of Art Management, and will continue to work between London, Italy and Switzerland.
Two art registrars and research professionals are also to join Stonehage Fleming’s office in Zurich.
OmniArte was founded in 2005 by Maria de Peverelli and serves a European client base that includes several types of clients.
Commenting on the transaction, Steve Kettle, partner responsible for art management at Stonehage Fleming, said: “Art is very much part of the Stonehage Fleming DNA and art management has been a core part of our multi family office offering since Georgina established the highly successful division in 2007. Whilst a collector’s tastes may change from time to time, an art management platform continues as the backbone to a collection.
“The transaction enhances our cross-border art management capabilities and provides the further expertise necessary to position us as the leader in Art Management. Maria is a seasoned art professional and curator and has an excellent reputation in the art world. Our clients have already begun to benefit from her extensive experience.”
Georgina Hepburne Scott, head of Art Management at Stonehage Fleming, added: “We serve as art gatekeepers, working with clients at every stage of collecting. Our comprehensive service includes governance and legal oversight, cataloguing and insurance, coordination of purchases, sales and exhibition loans as well as succession planning. Maria’s curatorial experience in continental Europe will further bolster our existing offering and we look forward to working with Maria.”
Maria de Peverelli, founder of OmniArte said: “My love affair with Stonehage Fleming began when I realised that we shared the same passion for art – which is different to the current trend whereby art is increasingly viewed as merely an investment asset. Further, we share a common mission to place our clients’ best interests first by focussing on the preservation, protection and valorisation of art whilst also considering the future options available for a collection.”