Curatorial Guidelines

Introduction

A curated shopping experience is integral to Chairish’s success and sets us apart from other online platforms. Buyers consistently cite our premium inventory, strong stylistic point of view, and high-quality standards, as reasons to shop on Chairish. As a result, we are selective about the items that we accept, and we will decline submissions that are not aligned with the guidelines outlined in this article.

When evaluating listings for consideration, we incorporate merchandising insights on top-selling items, emerging trends, and the merits of the individual item to inform our decision-making. The following guidelines are designed to help sellers understand how we approach curation, what we are looking for, and what may not make the cut. We strive to provide a smooth curation process and a streamlined seller experience. For more examples of what performs well on the site please visit our:

• Staff Picks
• Most Loved Listings
• A-List Collections
• Pink Book

If you are new to selling on Chairish, please review our Curatorial Guidelines in full, prior to submitting an item. While your item is Pending Review, our Curators consider all of the product’s attributes, including the item type, style, construction, and cultural significance. After assessing your item, our Curators will either approve it for publication, Incomplete, or Decline your item based on whether or not it is a fit within our current Curatorial strategy. 

Guidelines by Category	Other Considerations for Acceptance/Decline
Building & Design Materials/Bed & Bath Accessories Decorative Accents and Accessories Fine Art Furniture Lighting Outdoor Rugs	Brands Condition Cultural Heritage Restricted Materials Style Sanctioned Countries

 

Guidelines by Category

Building & Design Materials/Bed & Bath Accessories

We are currently focused on unique vintage finds or high-end newly manufactured pieces, and a handful of these categories can only be listed by pre-approved sellers. If you do not see an appropriate category for an item you wish to submit, please reach out to production@chairish.com.

Building & Design - Only New and Unused	Bed & Bath - Only New and Unused
Categories and Styles  Toilets and Bidets Bidets One or Two Piece, and Wall-Mount Toilets Toilet Seats and Seat Covers Wallpaper Borders, Tiles, Rolls Murals and Panels Brands We're Coveting Americh California Faucets cle tile Franz Viegener Restoration Hardware Urban Archaeology Waterwork	Categories and Styles                  Bathroom Accessories Apothecary Diffusers      Bath Rugs & Mats Bath Towels & Sheets Scales Shower Curtains Bedding Brands We're Coveting MATOUK Restoration Hardware Waterworks

 

Decorative Accents and Accessories

Our curators prioritize decorative accents that are visually interesting, brightly colored, or unique. Just as accessories take an outfit from wearable to wow; vintage decor makes a room really sing! 

We're Always Coveting

We'll Pass On

Categories and Styles  Animalia Antique religious iconography & altarpieces with pedigree Chic Office Accessories Decorative Books Vintage and newly made decorative books with beautiful covers, especially when the subject matter is art, design, or fashion! Large sets of decorative, display-worthy  books with monochromatic covers Vintage, display-worthy, children's books are encouraged   Fine Tabletop Accents Herend Fornasetti Tiffany Authentic Art Deco tabletop accessories Italian Hand-painted Ceramics Tulipieres Rattan and Wicker Luxury Retail Display Pieces -think Chanel, Gucci, and Hermés Luxury newly-made candles, & candle accessories of all ages Obelisks Vintage Textile Art Mounted or framed Window Treatments Bespoke + designer (in excellent condition)

Categories and Styles  Antiquities (pre-18th Century) & archaeological artifacts Electronic Novelties; Pinball, slot machines, jukeboxes, etc Flags  Distressed or newly made national flags Functional Books and Printed Matter Newly-made cookbooks Text-based books that are not decorative or suitable for display Magazines, auction house catalogs, playbills, and vintage newspapers or periodicals, unless  decorative and suited for display Contemporary & vintage books in poor condition Functional Items Medical Instruments & Models  Musical Instruments – unless decorative and suited for display Hobbyist Items  Model planes, trains, or automobiles; models and miniature versions of furniture or décor Loose Textiles Embroidery, Rug fragments, Clothing, or Accessories Mass-produced figurines, statues, and sculptures Lladro Precious Moments Hummel Remington, etc. Religious Imagery and Artifacts Mass-produced Tabletop/ Housewares  Corningware Pfaltzgraff Pyrex Tupperware Memerobelia + Collectibles  Autographed memorabilia, and any items whose value derives from being previously owned by or affiliated with a historical figure, celebrity, or pop culture figure Sports memorabilia Travel souvenirs  Commemorative collectibles Dolls (toys or display pieces) Political Memorabilia Military + Industrial Salvage Mannequins and dress forms Military memorabilia, wartime salvage, and trench art Street signs  Utilitarian industrial pieces Small Paper Goods Postcards, Gift Tags, Paper Dolls, etc. Vehicles Bicycles, motorcycles, cars Vintage Compacts, Perfume bottles, etc Vintage Electric Appliances Refrigerators, stoves, radios, and fans may be declined unless they are purely decorative

 

Fine Art 

Chairish features a broad assortment of antique, vintage, and contemporary artwork in an array of styles and mediums; reflecting high-quality materials, and craftsmanship, bringing personality to every room!

We’re Always Coveting

We’ll Pass On

Categories and Styles  Color Bright, colorful statement pieces Monochromatic art Styles Abstract, Modernist Sculpture Geometric Art Pop Art Graphic Word Art Large sets of prints suited for gallery walls Large Scale Works Authentic Folk Art that reflects the traditions and aesthetics of a given community or culture Outsider Art by noted self-taught artists with provenance Subject Matter Animalia Figural sculptures, paintings, & drawings Landscapes and scenic works Traditional portraits Religious iconography & altarpieces with pedigree Vintage (pre-1980s)+ Antique Ephemera & Advertisements, prioritizing the following subject matters: Arts, music, and leisure Fashion Sports Travel  Holiday

Categories and Styles  Color While there are no specific restrictions on color; dark, muddy themes do not do well on Chairish and may contribute to our decision to decline a submission Styles Found object sculptures Food & beverage advertising Cast bronze sculptures that lack provenance or were not made in a limited edition Newly-made replicas of well-known works Reproductions or mass-produced/stock artwork     Subject Matter Images, sculptures, or figurines depicting: Clowns or dolls Erotic nudes and sexual subject matter Children Violent subject matter Firearms or weapons Racially insensitive or ethnic caricature

Chairish Artist Collective

The Chairish Artist Collective features a select group of emerging practicing artists. The Chairish Print Shop features a small invitation-only group of artists selected based on their proven track record of success on Chairish with their original work.

To be considered for the Chairish Artist Collective or Print Shop, please contact sales@chairish.com.

 

Furniture

Furniture is one of our best-performing categories, you could call it our raison d’etre!  We prioritize high-quality and unique pieces from a wide range of eras and styles.  

We're Always Coveting

We'll Pass On

Categories and Styles Authentic Pieces by Iconic Designers Art Deco Buffets and Vanities Beds, Daybeds, and Chaise Lounges Campaign Style Case Goods Chairs  Pairs of club, lounge, and accent chairs (especially oversized and curvy) Dining Chair Sets (especially 6 or more) Game Tables Tables  Marble and stone dining and coffee tables Materials and Finishes Professionally lacquered desks & case goods in bright colors Faux Bois Plaster Rattan and Wicker Tole Trompe L’oeil

Categories and Styles  Beds/Mattresses Bunk beds, trundle beds, murphy beds Standard, sleeper sofas, or futons Children's Vintage children’s furniture including high chairs, cribs, and beds Other children’s furniture and decor may be accepted based on style and rarity Sewing Table Bases Furniture with Built-in Electronics TVs Record Cabinets Sewing Machines Radios, etc Materials and Finishes Chalk-painted vintage + antique furniture, especially with multiple colors

 

Lighting

The Chairish shopper loves an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage light fixtures, shades, and finials. In the lighting category, it’s all about making a statement!

We're Always Coveting

We'll Pass On

Material and Finishes Murano & Venetian Glass in bright colors Shell Motif & Professional Shell Encrustation Wicker, Rattan, & Bentwood Categories and Styles                  Animalia (Ceramic) Lamps Bagues Brutalist Chandeliers and Pendant Lights Caprani Floral, Petal, and Organic Motifs Flush Mount Fixtures Ginger Jar Lamps Plaster & Porcelain Base Table Lamps Space Age Sputnik-style Chandeliers Stilnovo

Condition Fixtures with exposed wiring, in excessive need of repair  Select non-functional fixtures may be accepted based on style and/or rarity Categories and Styles                  Tiffany or Slag glass lamps made after 1960 Table lamps made from repurposed objects Instruments Figurines Vintage electronics Contemporary unbranded or mass-produced lamps, including but not limited to the following style families: Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts Victorian

 

Outdoor

Our outdoor categories are centered around the same standards as their indoor counterparts. Whimsical, unique, and posh are the name of the game!

We're Always Coveting	We'll Pass On
Categories and Styles                  Planters and garden ornaments with Animalia motifs Moroccan garden ornaments Chinoiserie ceramic garden stools Vintage + antique, and branded dining and lounge sets   Materials & Finishes Wrought Iron Bentwood + rattan Cement Indoor/outdoor upholstered cushions + seating such as Sunbrella Moderately patinated metals	Categories & Styles Unbranded contemporary outdoor furniture + accessories Used fire pits Grills + smokers Heavily used industrial items Gardening tools Garden ornaments + accessories in kitschy style families Materials & Finishes Repurposed & upcycled items DIY paint jobs Planters containing soil or live + faux  plants Contemporary bronze statues, fountains, and garden ornaments

 

Rugs 

At this time, we accept a limited selection of authentic antique and vintage rugs as well as an assortment of newly made rugs sourced from handpicked contemporary brands.  If you would like to have your rug inventory considered for publication on Chairish, please reach out to production@chairish.com. 

If you are already listing rugs on Chairish...

We're Always Coveting	We'll Pass On
Categories and Styles                  Bright Moroccan Chinese Art Deco Dhurries Gabbeh Geometric Kurdish Scandinavian Single Icon Animalia Turkish Oushak (in unique colorways)	Categories and Styles                   Hides - unless a vetted seller Cowhide, Goat, Zebra, Sheepskin Overdyed Figurative Pictorial Khotans Prayer Rugs Patchwork Pattern/Construction Round or Oval Shapes Solid Neutral Colorways Traditional Styles with Borders and Medallions with Borders Transitional Geometric Patterning Antique + Vintage Reproductions

 

Other Considerations for Acceptance/Decline

Brands

We gladly accept most used, marked, designer items, while many contemporary mass-market brands are not suitable for sale on Chairish. We cannot accept listings from contemporary/ mass-produced brands that do not regularly resell at prices that justify their shipping costs. 

• • Limited exceptions may be made on select vintage pieces made before 1980 from mass-produced brands
  • Information on the designer, manufacturer, artist, or origin of the purchase is required for all contemporary pieces and may be requested for any product at our Curators’ discretion.

Submissions with inventory depth from the following brands + artists are limited to our approved Wholesale accounts:

• • Arteriors
  • Bernhardt
  • Century
  • Lexington Furniture
  • Schumacher
  • Slim Aarons
  • Visual Comfort

Sellers are liable for the mislabeling of a piece’s designer/manufacturer or falsely attributing a piece in the style of a highly-regarded designer/manufacturer. 

 

Condition

Accurate descriptions of condition issues, realistic condition reports, and detailed images will help us to best determine if the piece is a fit, and increase your odds of a successful sale.

We'll Pass On:

Items that are not usable in their current condition (even if they might benefit from restoration, e.g. refinishing or reupholstery) or where the current condition could cause injury.

 

Cultural Heritage

Chairish stands for a diverse and inclusive marketplace in which all groups are both represented and respected. While we understand that certain outdated depictions of marginalized groups may be of historical significance to some, the principles of these representations do not align with our values. 

Additionally, we closely adhere to all federal regulations around Native American goods, with sensitivity toward Culturally significant objects of all kinds. 

For more information, please review our Cultural Heritage article.

 

Restricted Materials

We curate in accordance with government regulations when it comes to products made using materials from threatened or protected species. Additionally, we are committed to the sustainable and ethical sourcing of natural materials whenever possible, including those that may not be federally regulated.

For more information on natural products we will or won’t accept, as well as limitations around shipping certain materials, please visit our Protected/Restricted Materials article.

 

Sanctioned Countries

Newly-Made 

In accordance with the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), we do not conduct business with financially sanctioned countries. For this reason, we do not accept newly-made objects that are either located in or produced by sanctioned countries. 

The Country of Origin field does not include any sanctioned countries as an option, nor does the Pickup Address field. 

You will be unable to list your item if:

1. 1. The Country of Origin is not available in our dropdown list

and/or

1. 1. Your pickup address is in a Sanctioned Country

Vintage

To list a vintage item that was originally made in a country not available in our dropdown list, and is not currently located in a Sanctioned Country, select “Unknown” as the country of origin, and do not include the origin country in your title. 

Please consult the Treasury Department’s website for the most up-to-date list of sanctioned countries. 

Based on the Country of Origin, some items may not be eligible for cross-border shipping. 

Misrepresenting an item’s Country of Origin/age may result in the item being confiscated or destroyed in customs. Please note that you as the seller are responsible for accurately representing the item.

 

Style

To present a cohesive style perspective, we must restrict the styles and categories listed for sale, regardless of their merit or significance. 

We’ll pass on the styles listed below:

• • Orientalism
  • Contemporary products that have been mass-produced 
  • We accept a limited number of sets with mixed product types based on style and rarity, when we have the appropriate category selection to promote the set.

Clothing, Jewelry, & Accessories

We only accept these pieces if they are framed, mounted, or otherwise presented as decorative objects.

DIY Styles

• • All refinished items, paint jobs, and motifs must be of professional quality.

 

In Closing

Our curators reserve the right to decline any submissions not expressly mentioned in the guidelines. Our Curatorial Guidelines evolve over time based on shortages or surpluses of inventory, merchandising initiatives, and marketplace trends. From time to time, we may incomplete or decline published items to reflect updates to the Curatorial Guidelines. 

It is always best to base your submissions on what you see in the current guidelines, rather than what you see listed on the site. If you see what you believe to be comparable pieces for sale on Chairish, it is likely that the listing is an older submission that was accepted prior to our current guidelines. 

Please contact production@chairish.com if you would like more information about your product submissions and whether or not they meet the Chairish curatorial guidelines.