Oils and lithographs: the Bordeaux selection
The Bordeaux institution accepts lithographs and oils on canvas or panel in perfect condition by artists with a record on the art market. It expressly excludes engravings and reproductions, according to an article published in December 2020 and updated in November 2022.
Paintings and photographs on the Paris list
The Crédit Municipal de Paris lists "paintings, photographs" among its officially accepted categories. An original print by a recognised photographer can therefore be presented at 55 rue des Francs-Bourgeois; for a decorative poster or print, it is better to ask the institution before making the trip.
A signature expected in Reims
The Crédit Municipal de Reims refers to "signed paintings" in its list. The appraiser receives visitors there on Mondays between 11 am and noon, except in August, and the institution asks you to call ahead on 03 26 86 76 10 for a canvas.
Strasbourg: drawings and prints by appointment
In Strasbourg, jewellery and watches are received without an appointment, but paintings, drawings, prints and art photographs require an appointment with the auctioneer. The institution advertises credit of 50 to 70% of the valuation there, according to its July 2023 page.
Toulouse: a range of 50 to 70%
The pre-contractual information sheet of the Crédit Municipal de Toulouse, posted online in April 2022, classes paintings among works of art and indicates a loan of between 50 and 70% of the valuation. The institution is based on rue des Lois.
The cap set by the 2008 decree
Whatever the institution, article D514-8, stemming from decree no. 2008-1404, forbids lending more than two thirds of the estimated value of a painting. The 70% upper bound shown in Toulouse or Strasbourg exceeds this ratio: only the contract is binding.
The expert and the report
The Crédit Municipal de Paris has experts by speciality, including modern paintings, and hands over an appraisal report. This document is not proof of ownership: it puts a figure on the work without settling any question of attribution or title.
Modern art: certificate compulsory in Bordeaux
For a modern or contemporary canvas, Bordeaux requires a certificate or guarantee card and the purchase invoice, and only the owner may deposit it. A work bought from a gallery without any document of origin is therefore at risk of refusal.
Major works: up to several million in Paris
The Paris fine art lending channel advertises 50 to 60% of the value and up to 6 million euros, against 5 million on the rates simulator. The canvas then joins the secure storerooms of CC ART.
How long the canvas stays on deposit
The Paris contract runs for one year and is renewed with the institution's agreement and a fresh valuation, according to the general terms as of 1 May 2026. The term of a pawn loan remains capped at two years by article D514-7.
Temperature changes and insurance
The general terms of the Crédit Municipal de Paris exclude compensation for damage caused by insects or temperature changes, real risks for a stretcher, a canvas or a wooden panel. In case of loss, the compensation equals the valuation plus 25%.
Unclaimed painting: public sale and surplus
An unredeemed canvas is sold, in Paris in themed sales such as "Music - Books - Paintings - Objects". Fees amount to 15% of the hammer price; the auction of a pledge may leave a surplus, as with a pledged sculpture.
Institutions that take paintings as a pledge
- Crédit Municipal de Paris: Paintings and photographs accepted, experts in modern paintings, loans on high-value works of art.
- Crédit Municipal de Bordeaux: Oils on canvas or panel and lithographs by artists with an auction record; engravings and reproductions refused.
- Crédit Municipal de Toulouse: Paintings classed among works of art, loan of 50 to 70% of the valuation according to its 2022 sheet.
- Crédit Municipal de Reims: Accepts signed paintings; appraiser available for one hour on Mondays, after a prior call.
- Crédit Municipal de Strasbourg: Paintings, drawings, prints and art photographs received only by appointment with the auctioneer.
The journey of a pledged canvas
- Check that the work is a signed original, oil or lithograph, and not an engraving or a printed reproduction.
- Gather the invoice, the artist's or gallery's certificate and any trace of provenance, essential for modern and contemporary art.
- Book an appointment with the institution, as most Crédits Municipaux do not receive paintings at the counter without notice.
- Attend the auctioneer's examination of the canvas, then reread the valuation and amount written on the valuation slip.
- Sign the contract, receive the funds by transfer or in cash within legal limits, and keep the pawn ticket.
- Before the due date, repay to recover the painting or request a renewal with a fresh valuation.
What a pledged painting costs
| Element | Published figure | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum share lent | Two thirds of the valuation | Art. D514-8 CMF, 2008 decree |
| Share advertised in Toulouse | 50 to 70% of the valuation | Pre-contractual sheet, April 2022 |
| APR above 6,000 euros in Paris | 5.30% | Rates page, updated September 2024 |
| Withdrawing a lot already up for sale | 5% of the valuation | Paris general terms, 1 May 2026 |
| Bordeaux, Reims, Strasbourg | According to the institution's scale | Rates displayed in branch |
Supporting documents for pledging a painting
- Valid identity card or passport
- Proof of address in France less than three months old for a first deposit in Paris
- Bank details of a current account, savings accounts being refused
- Certificate of authenticity or the artist's guarantee card
- Gallery invoice or auction sale slip
- Proof of income above 10,000 euros borrowed from the Crédit Municipal de Paris
Traps to avoid with a canvas
- Bringing an engraving or printed reproduction: Bordeaux expressly excludes them, and an image with no auction value interests no appraiser.
- Believing that the appraisal report handed over in Paris proves ownership or the definitive authenticity of the work, which it does not.
- Turning up in Strasbourg with a canvas but no appointment, when only jewellery and watches are received freely there.
- Overlooking the two-year deadline for claiming the surplus in Paris, after which the money stays with the institution.
- Comparing the loan with the gallery purchase price rather than the likely public sale value used by the appraiser.
Common questions on pledged paintings
Does the Crédit Municipal accept paintings?
Yes, provided they are valuable originals. Paris accepts paintings and photographs, Reims signed paintings, Bordeaux oils and lithographs by artists with an auction record. Reproductions and engravings are refused in Bordeaux, and final acceptance always depends on the appraiser.
What percentage of a painting's value is lent?
The Code monétaire et financier sets a maximum of two thirds of the valuation. Toulouse and Strasbourg advertise 50 to 70%, and Paris 50 to 60% for its loans on high-value works. The valuation follows the auction market, not the gallery price.
Can a lithograph be pledged?
In Bordeaux, yes, if it is in perfect condition and by an artist with an auction record. The same institution, however, refuses engravings and reproductions. Strasbourg receives prints by appointment; elsewhere, ask the local institution before depositing.
What happens if I do not repay the loan on my painting?
The work is sold at public auction. At the Crédit Municipal de Paris, 15% of the hammer price is retained as fees. If the sale raises more than the debt, the surplus is paid to you; if it raises less, nothing more is claimed from you.
Official sources
Vente Musique - Livres - Tableaux - Objets, Crédit Municipal de Pariscreditmunicipal.fr
Conditions générales du prêt sur gage au 1er mai 2026creditmunicipal.fr
General information, up to date as of October 2026 and non-contractual: always check the terms with the Crédit Municipal or the institution concerned.