Web giant Amazon has held talks with galleries and may begin selling fine art as soon as this month.
The strategy is part of a plan to attract more high spending consumers as Amazon sell more expensive wines and begins to trade more luxury fashions, including through subsidiary MyHabit.com.
The Wall Street Journal said it has spoken to a dozen gallery owners that had confirmed Amazon's interest ans that it had even invited some to cocktail receptions to woo them.
The firm plans to begin a new site with work from about 100 galleries charging commission of between 5 per cent and 20 per cent depending on the price of the work. It charges wine suppliers about 15 per cent WSJ sources said.
A previous foray by Amazon into the art world with Sotherby's in 2000 ended after 16 months when the auctioneer failed to gain traction with the plan. However, this time it seems likely art collectors are more open to buying on the web.
The LA Times said an analysis from Hiscox, which insures art at galleries, museums and auction houses, found that 64 per cent of collectors surveyed bought art via the internet. Online art sales are expected to grow from $870 million (£577 million) in 2012 to $2.1 billion in 2017, according to the study.
Sites including Paddle 8, Artspace and Berlin-based Auctionata have recently set up or raised funds to expand as the market gains a new lease of life, the Daily Telegraph said in April.
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