A clearinghouse system for inter-gallery trading of artworks is described. A central database stores digital images and metadata about artworks owned by all member galleries. The data is duplicated and stored in local databases at each member gallery. Customers at a first gallery can view images and information about artworks owned by other galleries using display devices installed at the first gallery. If the customer is interested in an artwork owned by a second gallery, a price request is transmitted from the display device to a remote clearinghouse management server. The clearinghouse management server transmits the price to the first gallery via an information receiver other than the display device. The first gallery may then quote a price to the customer by adding a markup to the price received from the clearinghouse management server. A purchase request can also be generated from the display device.
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