Art Defender Launches The Vault, a Digital Safe for Art Collections

Art Defender, founded by Alvise di Canossa, has launched The Vault, a digital vault for art collections. Developed in partnership with Artshell, a top player in digital art management platforms, The Vault allows collectors, dealers, and museums to securely archive, view, and share high-res images and information from anywhere. The service integrates with Art Defender's existing offerings: conservation, consultancy, insurance, and logistics. CEO Alessandro Guerrini explains that The Vault was conceived before the pandemic accelerated digitalization, aiming to innovate both services and communication. The platform enables real-time interaction with the Art Defender team via a dedicated chat, and allows collectors to visualize their holdings in a hyper-realistic 3D environment replicating Art Defender's physical vaults. For dealers, it streamlines operations such as sharing images with clients, requesting transport and insurance quotes, and handling customs formalities. Art Defender's network of vaults spans Turin, Milan, Bologna, Florence, and Rome. The Bologna facility includes a duty-free warehouse for art, collector cars, and valuables, as well as dedicated storage for photographic collections like the Alinari archive. The Vault has generated strong interest from existing clients, including unexpected collectors of ancient art, as well as corporate collections and galleries. Guerrini sees the digital vault as a complement to physical experiences, not a replacement.