Image from ‘Training Household Staff to Care for Fine Art and Antiques’ by Ty Murphy LLM © Ty Murphy LLM
© Ty Murphy LLM
Author and art expert Ty Murphy LLM–a due diligence specialist in fine art transactions–has published his latest book, Training Household Staff to Care for Fine Art and Antiques. This comprehensive resource provides critical guidance to estate managers, private collectors, and professional caretakers of valuable collections.
As well as being a respected art advisor, Ty Murphy LLM is known in the international art and antiques world for his expertise in fine art management and due diligence in fine art acquisitions. Murphy holds an LLB, LPC, and LLM from BPP University of Law and trained at the prestigious Royal Western Academy of England. Murphy frequently advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, leading family offices and prominent private estates on all facets of art transactions, including due diligence, authenticity verification, and comprehensive collection care.
Training Household Staff to Care for Fine Art and Antiques is a timely and practical guide. Murphy came up with the idea for the book after an incident involving one of his prominent clients, whose significant artwork was severely damaged due to improper handling by inadequately trained household staff. Recognizing the crucial need for specialist training among domestic personnel, Murphy created this educational manual to equip household staff with essential skills and knowledge for protecting the integrity and value of fine art and antiques.
Murphy’s forthcoming book, The Art Market: A Concise Guide for Collectors and Professionals, is represented by renowned New York literary agent Susan Schulman and is scheduled for release later this year, further enhancing his reputation as an authoritative voice in the global art market. His clients include prestigious private collectors and elite art institutions who look to Murphy for his expert guidance, and for the first time his expertise is documented in a comprehensive book.
Image from ‘Training Household Staff to Care for Fine Art and Antiques’ by Ty Murphy LLM © Ty Murphy LLM
© Ty Murphy LLM
In Training Household Staff to Care for Fine Art and Antiques, Murphy LLM delivers clearly structured, actionable strategies covering all crucial aspects of art and antique preservation. The book systematically addresses vital topics such as the proper handling of paintings, sculptures, textiles, and antique furniture. Murphy emphasizes preventive care methods, including precise environmental control to mitigate risks from humidity, temperature variations, pests, and improper exposure to light.
Each chapter features insightful case studies drawn from Murphy’s extensive personal experience, providing readers with real-life scenarios that illustrate potential risks and how best to address them. Specialized sections tackle advanced preservation concerns, including legal accountability, comprehensive security measures, and detailed strategies for emergency situations such as fires and floods—issues Murphy has directly managed for his distinguished clientele.
Murphy explained to me how important professional training is in how to handle art and antiques: “Art collections are delicate, culturally significant assets requiring precise and knowledgeable care. Household staff are frequently the first line of defense. Proper, specialized training is indispensable, and this book provides essential methods and tools to protect irreplaceable artworks effectively.”
Portrait of Ty Murphy LLM © Ty Murphy LLM
© Ty Murphy LLM
A standout feature of Murphy’s guide is the inclusion of professionally designed documentation templates, including detailed condition reports, inventory logs, provenance records, and loan agreements. These practical tools facilitate thorough record-keeping and foster seamless communication among household staff, conservators, art advisors, insurers, and external professionals, ensuring meticulous management of every piece.
Additionally, Murphy offers a complete, ready-to-use training slide deck enabling the immediate implementation of effective, structured staff training programs tailored specifically to the needs and responsibilities of household personnel. Such practical resources reflect Murphy’s commitment to equipping estate managers and art caretakers with clear and immediate solutions to common art-handling challenges.
Industry experts have praised the depth and practical value of the guide. Roberto Alcalde, founder of Es Revellar Art Resort & Museum, described it as “an indispensable guide, bringing world-class expertise directly into estate management.” At the same time, Cameron McMillan of McMillan Fine Art Gallery commended it for “setting the gold standard for fine art and antique care.”
Ty Murphy LLM’s new publication promises to become a vital resource for private collectors, estate planners, family offices, art advisors, and institutions committed to preserving their valuable cultural heritage.
Training Household Staff to Care for Fine Art and Antiques is now available at major outlets, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple Books.
The book is also available on Amazon here.