Art Collection App
Vitrine is an art collection app for hobbyist collectors. Catalog artworks with medium, dimensions, provenance, exhibition history, and insurance value. A web-based alternative to Artwork Archive at a fraction of the price. Free to start.
Why art collectors choose Vitrine
Artwork Archive is expensive and built for galleries
Artwork Archive is the dominant art collection tool, but it starts at several hundred dollars per year and is designed for galleries and professional artists. A hobbyist collector does not need most of its features.
Most tools have no valuation tracking
Documenting what art is worth for insurance purposes is a practical need for any collector. Most apps treat value as an optional field rather than a core feature.
Provenance documentation is poorly supported
Provenance — the documented ownership history of a work — matters for authenticity and for resale. Generic inventory apps have no structured provenance fields.
Features for art collectors
Artwork fields
Record artist, title, year, medium, dimensions, edition number, and framing details.
Provenance chain
Document the full ownership history of each work: gallery purchased from, previous owners, auction records, and any certificates of authenticity.
Condition reports
Record condition at acquisition and update it over time. Note any restoration, damage, or conservation work.
Exhibition history notes
Record exhibitions the work has appeared in — date, venue, and title — in the notes and description fields. Loans management is available on Professional plans.
Insurance value
Record current insurance value and update it after reappraisal. Vitrine totals insurance values across your collection.
Photo storage
Attach high-resolution images: front, back, signature, detail shots, and frame.
How to catalog your artworks with Vitrine
- 1
Create your account
Sign up free. Your collection is private by default.
- 2
Add your artworks
Enter artist, title, year, medium, and dimensions. Add photos. Record where and when you acquired the work.
- 3
Document provenance and condition
Record the ownership chain, any certificates of authenticity, and the condition at acquisition.
- 4
Set insurance value
Enter the current insurance value for each work. Update it after professional reappraisals. Vitrine totals these across your collection.
Vitrine vs other artworks tools
| Tool | Limitation |
|---|---|
| Vitrine | Web-based, free to start, full cataloguing with public collection page |
| Artwork Archive | Priced and designed for galleries and professional artists. Expensive for a hobbyist collector with a modest collection. |
| Spreadsheets | No provenance chain fields, no structured condition reports, no exhibition history, no value calculation. |
Pricing for art collectors
Community — Free. Up to 100 items, public collection page, core cataloguing.
Hobbyist — £5/month. Up to 1,000 items, collection analytics, CSV import, wanted list, and 100 MB document storage.
Professional — £79/month. Up to 5,000 items, full dashboard, visitor analytics, event ticketing, compliance tools, staff accounts, and 1 GB document storage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I document provenance in Vitrine?
Each artwork has a provenance section where you record the ownership chain: gallery purchased from, purchase date, any previous owners, auction records, and certificates of authenticity. Add as much or as little detail as you have.
Can I record condition reports for my artworks?
Yes. Vitrine has a condition report field for every work. Record the condition at acquisition and add entries over time if the condition changes. Note any restoration, damage, or conservation work.
How do I value my art collection for insurance?
Enter the current insurance value for each work. Vitrine totals these across your collection. Update values after professional reappraisals. On Professional plans you can export the full list as CSV.
Can I track multiple works by the same artist?
Yes. Filter your collection by artist to see all works by them together. You can also create a separate collection group for a single artist if you prefer.
How is Vitrine different from Artwork Archive?
Artwork Archive is built for galleries, artists, and institutions at professional pricing. Vitrine is built for hobbyist collectors at a fraction of the cost. If you collect art but are not running a gallery, Vitrine covers what you actually need.
Start cataloguing your artworks
Free to start. No credit card required. Your collection stays private until you choose to share it.
Create your free account →