A narrow door for artworks
The CPPG does not open pledging to all art: its list covers works by identified Swiss artists with a minimum value of CHF 1,000. An anonymous canvas or a print by a foreign artist falls outside this framework, published in October 2026.
What an identified artist means
The work must be attributable with certainty to a named Swiss artist, which implies a signature, provenance or documentation. Without a sound attribution, the expert cannot establish the auction resale value that underpins every Geneva loan.
An external expert, by appointment
Unlike gold, weighed at the counter in a few minutes, works of art and bronzes are entrusted to an external expert. The CPPG asks for this appraisal to be arranged beforehand: you do not turn up with a painting without calling first.
Bronzes, treated like artworks
Bronze sculptures follow the same route as paintings, through outside appraisal. The general procedure is detailed in valuing a pledged item in Switzerland, including the differences between the Geneva and Zurich offices.
Furniture and antiques excluded
The CPPG refuses furniture and antiques, whatever their market value. A period chest of drawers or an antique clock therefore cannot serve as a pledge in Geneva, even with an expert's certificate or a gallery invoice.
Antiquarian books and rugs
Antiquarian books are also among the refusals. For rugs, the office mentions a deposit for appraisal, in the same way as for diamonds. Before setting off with a valuable rug, it is therefore wise to ask about the exact procedure.
Nothing provided in Zurich
The Pfandleihkasse of the Zürcher Kantonalbank does not mention works of art: its list is limited to jewellery, certified diamonds, coins and bars, Swiss watches and recent bicycles. Among the Swiss public institutions identified, only the Geneva office publishes conditions for art.
Rates once the loan is granted
The ratio lent on a work of art is not published. The loan follows the general bands: 0% up to CHF 350, 5% up to CHF 850, 7.5% above, plus the 6% pledge fee; see pawn loan rates in Switzerland.
Storage and contract term
The work stays on the office's premises for 6 or 12 months. The contract may be extended against an instalment of 20% of the loan, after a new valuation reflecting depreciation, under article 6 paragraph 4 of the LCPPG.
Public sale of an unredeemed work
If the loan is not repaid, the work is sold at public auction, after two notices in the Feuille d'avis officielle and an eight-day period (article 7 LCPPG). The CPPG holds about three sales a year; the next is scheduled for 21 November 2026.
Surplus and the deadline to claim it
If the hammer price exceeds the debt and the 10% sale charges, the surplus belongs to the borrower for five years. After that period, article 8 of the LCPPG assigns it permanently to the Geneva office.
Benchmarks outside Switzerland
Pawning works of art in France and pawning works of art in Belgium depend on the Crédit Municipal institutions and the Brussels Mont-de-Piété, whose criteria on the artist's origin and minimum value differ from the Geneva rule.
Who to deal with for an art pledge
- Caisse publique de prêts sur gages (CPPG): Accepts works by identified Swiss artists from CHF 1,000 in Geneva, after a prior external appraisal.
- Loi sur la caisse publique de prêts sur gages (LCPPG): Sets out renewal, public auction and the five-year deadline for the surplus in Geneva.
Pledging a work of art in Geneva
- Check that the work is by an identified Swiss artist and is worth at least CHF 1,000.
- Gather the certificate, gallery invoice, provenance and any earlier appraisals.
- Call the CPPG to arrange the external appraisal before transporting the work.
- Attend the appraisal and note the amount offered, based on resale value.
- Sign the 6- or 12-month contract; the 6% pledge fee is charged only once.
- Redeem or extend at the due date to avoid the public auction.
Known costs of an art pledge in Geneva
| Item | CPPG rule | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum value of the work | CHF 1,000 | Identified Swiss artist |
| Ratio lent | Not published | As set by the external expert |
| Annual interest (Oct. 2026) | 0%, 5% or 7.5% depending on the amount | Rates set each year, approved by the Council of State |
| Pledge fee | 6% | Charged once |
| Sale charges | 10% | If the work is sold at auction |
Papers to bring with an artwork
- Official identity document
- Certificate of authenticity or artist's attestation
- Gallery or auction house invoice
- Provenance history
- Earlier appraisal if there is one
- B, C, F, L, N or S permit for a non-Swiss national
Pitfalls of pledging art in Switzerland
- Bringing a work by a foreign or unattributed artist, outside the list published by the Geneva office.
- Turning up without an appointment when the external appraisal must be arranged beforehand with the CPPG.
- Offering period furniture or an antique in the belief that they count as works of art.
- Looking for a solution at the Zurich Pfandleihkasse, which does not mention works of art among its pledges.
- Forgetting that renewal comes with a new valuation, which may reduce the amount carried forward.
What people wonder about pledging art
Can a painting be pawned in Switzerland?
Yes in Geneva, if it is the work of an identified Swiss artist worth at least CHF 1,000. The CPPG has it examined by an external expert, by appointment made in advance. The ZKB Pfandleihkasse does not list art among its pledges.
Are antiques accepted as pledges in Geneva?
No. The CPPG refuses furniture and antiques, as well as antiquarian books. Only works by identified Swiss artists and bronzes, after external appraisal, open the way to a pledge for art objects.
How much is lent on a work of art?
The CPPG publishes no percentage for art, unlike watches or leather goods. The amount results from the external appraisal, based on auction resale value, and remains well below that value.
Can a bronze sculpture be pawned?
The CPPG lists bronzes among the items entrusted to an external expert. You therefore need to contact the office before coming, then wait for the appraisal to learn the decision and the amount offered.
General information, up to date as of October 2026 and non-contractual: always check the terms with the Crédit Municipal or the institution concerned.