ORBIS city intelligence

Buying in Harare: Jewellery and Contemporary Art

Patrick Mavros: compare the object at its actual scale

Decide whether the purchase is something to wear or something to display. For jewellery, check its weight and fit in person. A photograph cannot tell you how an earring moves or how a cuff sits on the wrist. For a sculpture, measure the place where you expect it to stand and consider how it will be seen from different angles.

Ask about the metal and care of the exact piece. If it is a gift, confirm the recipient's size where relevant. Arrange the visit before travelling to Umwinsidale, and discuss packing separately from the selection itself.

First Floor Gallery: start with an artist's work

Choose an artist or a small group of works to ask about. An exhibition page can remain online after a show ends, so contact the gallery to establish what can be seen in person. Ask for the medium and dimensions of a work that interests you, together with information about its artist.

If you are considering a purchase, request a written record identifying the work. Discuss framing or installation only where it applies to that piece. There is no need to make the decision on the first visit; use the viewing to compare the work with the space and collection you already have.

Chapungu: think about where the sculpture will live

Ask which works are available for purchase before assuming that everything on display is for sale. Look at a sculpture from more than one side and consider its scale in relation to the setting you have in mind. For an outdoor location, ask whether the material and finish suit those conditions.

Get the artist's name and the material recorded with the purchase. Clarify packing and transport responsibilities before agreeing to a large work. The cost and logistics of moving stone can be as important to the decision as the choice of piece.

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