Photography
Photos sell the piece before words do.
Serious collectors make fast judgments from images. A low-quality photo of a high-quality piece is the fastest way to kill bidder confidence. Here is what your photo set should include and why.
Shoot on a clean white, light grey, or black background with no distracting objects in frame
Cluttered surfaces, visible cords, furniture, or household items in the background
Use natural window light or a softbox — even, diffused, shadowless light shows form and color accurately
Harsh direct flash, overhead lamp glare, or mixed lighting that distorts color
Shoot from multiple angles: front, back, three-quarter, base, signature detail, joint, and any accessories included
Single-angle or two-angle sets. Collectors need to see the full piece before bidding with confidence
Capture UV reaction under blacklight separately if UV fuming is a feature of the piece
Describing UV properties without a UV photo — collectors have been burned by this before and will ask
A minimum of 6—8 photos: full front profile, three-quarter profile, back or other side, base, signature or artist mark, joint close-up, any included accessories, and a condition detail shot if there is any wear to document. For UV pieces, one UV photo minimum.
Condition Disclosure
Disclose everything. It protects you, not just the buyer.
Undisclosed condition issues are the most common source of post-sale disputes. A chip you do not mention, a hairline you missed, staining that was not called out — any of these can result in a buyer dispute during the 72-hour inspection period and a more complicated resolution for everyone.
Full disclosure builds bidder trust, keeps the comment thread clean, and makes the verification process simple. Buyers who know what they are getting bid with more confidence, not less.
"No known chips, cracks, or repairs. Minor cabinet wear on the base from display — visible in detail photo. Faint water line inside the joint area, barely perceptible but present. No bloom or devitrification observed. Smoke-free storage."
"Good condition." — This tells a buyer nothing and will generate comments asking for more detail, or worse, a dispute after delivery.
Any chips, cracks, hairlines, repairs, restorations, water staining, bloom, devitrification, base wear, or prior damage of any kind
That a small issue will not matter to the buyer. If it is visible, document it. Let the buyer decide.
Description Writing
Write like a collector, not like a listing.
Strong listings on The Glass Exchange are written to inform, not to hype. Lead with the most interesting or significant aspects of the piece, describe what makes it distinctive, and let the photos do the emotional work. Your description should fill in what the photos cannot show — technique, context, ownership history, artist background if relevant, and what the piece means in the broader body of work.
"2022 UV-fumed hammer by Example Artist featuring a signed base, matching marble set, and exceptional color shift across the entire can and mouthpiece. The fuming density on this piece is notably heavier than typical production pieces from this period. Single-owner collection, acquired directly from the artist at a regional event."
"Amazing piece, one of a kind! Great color, must see." — Vague, unspecific, and does not give serious bidders anything to work with.
Year, technique, specific materials, notable features, ownership history when available, any relevant exhibition or publication context
Superlatives without support ("amazing," "incredible," "rare"), vague claims ("one of a kind"), or sales language that reads like an ad
Reserve Expectations
Set a reserve that reflects the market, not your attachment.
A reserve is not a starting price — it is a floor. Reserves set too high suppress early bidding and can cause a piece to go unsold when it would have performed well at a more realistic number.
We review every reserve request before acceptance. If we believe a reserve is unrealistically high relative to current market conditions, we will ask that it be adjusted before we proceed. Our goal is for every listing to have a realistic chance of closing — an unsold piece benefits no one.
Research recent sales of comparable pieces. Set a reserve at a number you would genuinely accept and that reflects current collector appetite.
Setting a reserve based on what you paid, your emotional attachment, or hypothetical future value rather than current market evidence.
"I am requesting a reserve of $X based on comparable recent sales of similar Artist pieces at [reference], and because the piece includes original hard case and matching marble which adds meaningful value."
No Reserve Boost
Choose No Reserve and receive a 10-day featured auction window with a guaranteed Sunday close.
No Reserve listings receive a 10-day featured auction window and guaranteed Sunday close — built to maximize exposure, watcher count, and bidder confidence. The piece sells to the highest bidder once bidding opens.
A 10-day window collects more watchers and front-loads early interest. A Sunday evening close lines up with the strongest engagement window of the week.
If you are not prepared to part with the piece at whatever the market produces, request a reserve instead. No Reserve means the piece sells to the highest bidder, full stop.
Ownership History & Authorship
Tell the story behind the piece if you have one.
Ownership history matters more than most sellers realize. A piece acquired directly from the artist, purchased at a notable event, or documented through a publication or exhibition commands more bidder confidence and often stronger final results. If you have this history, share it.
"Acquired directly from the artist at a 2022 regional event. Signed on the base. Piece is featured in a social media post on the artist's verified account from April 2022 (link available on request). Single-owner from acquisition."
Original purchase source, year acquired, receipts or invoices if available, artist confirmation, exhibition or publication history
Claiming ownership history you cannot support, or inflating the history of a piece acquired through secondary market channels
Shipping Guidance
Your piece will be assigned a shipping guidance level at approval.
Shipping recommendations at The Glass Exchange are not one-size-fits-all. When your submission is approved, it is assigned a shipping guidance level based on the piece's value, fragility, form, and overall delivery risk. The level signals how strongly we recommend each of our standard practices — it does not mandate that you purchase any specific carrier or third-party coverage.
Following the Recommended Shipping Standards puts you in a significantly stronger position if a carrier incident occurs and a dispute is opened.
Recommended Shipping Standards apply: double-boxed packaging, adult signature confirmation over $500, boxing video, tracking. Carrier coverage encouraged for the full declared value.
Recommended standards apply with added emphasis on boxing video, adult signature confirmation, and discreet exterior packaging. Some collectors also choose optional third-party shipment protection for additional peace of mind.
All recommended standards apply, with third-party shipment protection expected before shipment. You retain discretion over provider and policy — The Glass Exchange does not endorse any specific provider, and coverage terms vary.
For museum-quality, historically significant, or major-collection transactions. Private courier coordination, in-person exchange, event/show handoff, or custom logistics arrangements may be considered. Available for select transactions, coordinated upon request.
The Glass Exchange may suggest a higher guidance level based on extreme fragility, protruding features, complex form, rarity, no hard case, packaging concerns, international shipping, or elevated delivery risk — regardless of listed price. If this applies to your piece, our reviewer will explain the decision in your approval notice. Sellers retain discretion over carrier, packaging, and any optional shipment protection.
If a piece arrives damaged and the seller cannot demonstrate that reasonable packaging and documentation standards were followed, the dispute outcome is likely to be unfavorable to the seller. Following the recommended standards protects you as much as the buyer.
Shipping Standards
Recommended Shipping Standards
To help protect buyers, sellers, and rare collectible work in transit, we strongly encourage the following professional shipping standards for all high-value shipments.
- Double-boxed packaging
- Full boxing video documentation
- Adult signature confirmation
- Discreet exterior packaging
- Retain packaging materials until transaction completion
- Optional third-party shipment protection for high-value pieces
Boxing video guidance
Boxing videos should clearly document:
- Item condition before packing
- Cushioning materials used
- Full sealing process
- Final labeled package
Optional Shipment Protection Resources
Some collectors choose to purchase additional shipment protection for higher-value, fragile, or difficult-to-replace pieces.
Coverage availability, exclusions, limits, and claim eligibility vary by provider, carrier, packaging method, shipment value, and destination.
White Glove & Concierge Delivery
For exceptionally valuable, historically significant, or difficult-to-replace collections, some collectors may prefer private courier coordination, in-person handoff, or white glove delivery arrangements.
While not required, personalized delivery coordination may provide additional peace of mind for certain high-value transactions. Available upon request and may be coordinated for select transactions.
Platform Standards
These standards protect your outcome, too.
Strict listing and shipping standards are not just there to protect buyers — they are the foundation of buyer confidence that makes higher bids and better outcomes possible. Sellers who follow the platform's standards are in a significantly stronger position if anything goes wrong.
- Platform curation signals trust — buyers bid more confidently on reviewed listings
- Following the Recommended Shipping Standards protects you in any dispute
- Packaging documentation is your strongest evidence if a carrier incident occurs
- The 72-hour inspection period is structured to be fair — disputes require evidence, not just a claim