The short answer to the question of whether insuring your art pottery collection is necessary, you should know that it is absolutely encouraged. That’s not going to do you much good, though, if you’re not sure why you’re insuring it – especially in this economy when we’re still watching every penny. As many collectors can attest, there is nothing more heartbreaking than investing your time and money over the years and then lose it to a natural disaster or some other accident – only to discover you were underinsured or recognizing that you weren’t insured at all. Suddenly, your Plan B for retirement is no longer an option and your investment lost value faster than the subprime mortgage sector.
Another misconception many have is that their homeowner’s policy will cover art pottery losses. The truth is, very few, if any allow American art pottery as part of a traditional homeowner’s policy. This means, of course, you’ll likely need to purchase a separate policy or at the very least, find out for sure what is and is not covered. That way, you can make better decision and won’t be so shocked should the unimaginable happen.
If there is one piece of advice that you should take away from this article is the importance of keeping an accurate inventory and documenting every detail – including dates, how much you paid, who the seller was and other details. Pictures go a long way should you ever have to file a claim and in fact, your insurer will likely want his own photos when the policy is taken out. Videotaping is also another good idea. Just remember to keep your documentation filed off site, if at all possible. 
It’s just always a good idea to keep the records and documentation in a different location than where your art pottery collection is. Many opt for a safety deposit box at their local banks while others simply keep it stored at a friend’s or family member’s home.
As with most things in life, you’re always far better off when you take a proactive approach instead of reacting to worst case scenario. Remember, too, Just Art Pottery offers an online appraisal service so that you can be sure all your bases are covered.
