We decided that only these ancient Chinese works of fine art are everlasting.

NPR: Buying Back China's Lost Art Treasures

One of the most exciting things about the map and atlas market, according to Crouch, is that unlike fine art, where most art works are already documented, it is still possible to make important discoveries.

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Jean-Rene Saillard works in Geneva for the British Fine Art Fund, an investment group devoted to buying art.

BBC: Geneva's art storage boom in uncertain times

Each Masterpiece is handcrafted over a period of at least two years, working from an original sketch and a wax mold and with rare, fine gemstones, which ultimately forges the three-dimensional works of art.

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After all, to a billionaire looking for a fourth or fifth trophy property, the emotional connection can often drive the decision--either because the homes are impossible-to-duplicate works of art or because billionaires keep score with one another when it comes to fine possessions.

FORBES: Real Estate