Unclaimed paintings

[louisesimon]

Afternoon, a couple of years ago somebody came in to get some paintings framed, they were in a rush to get home for there Sunday lunch so I said I would send them some photographs of possible options. However I never heard back from them, and still have the canvas in the workshop. Unframed.

Is there a certain period of time after which they become my property? I have contact details for the artist and thinking about asking if he wants to have his paintings back, which he sold and was paid for.

August is my quite month and trying to get all those odd jobs complete that seem to stick around for one reason or another.

[pramsay13]

Have you tried contacting them again?

[louisesimon]

Sent emails every 4/5 months, don't get a delivery failure so they are sending okay.

[pramsay13]

I'd imagine there is technically a deadline after which the paintings belong to you, but I wouldn't like to be the company that disposes of them and then have the customer return looking for them; imagine the negative publicity.
I would suggest actually taking them to them if you have an address, or keeping them somewhere safe if you don't.
Why not frame them and hang them up as examples of what you can do?

[Jamesnkr]

You may sell them and give him the cash left over after reasonable charges, provided you have followed due process (which includes sending a registered letter...).

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/images/ft ... 4-8201.pdf

http://www.fineart.co.uk/faq/disposal-o ... ds-31.aspx

[louisesimon]

I certainly wouldn't dispose of them but would return to the artist with his understanding that he knows the situation. The canvas is 5 foot, so takes up some space. The small a4 one is going to go on the display wall. Having just got one job out of here that's been with me nearly 4 years, just feel a bit on a mission to get rid of this final last lingerer.