Shipping policy

Last updated: 29 July 2026

This Shipping Policy applies to purchases made through the official ESPIGA Pinto Estate Shop, operated by Bishop & Melo, Lda.

Because many of the artworks and objects offered through the shop are rare, vintage, unique or limited-edition items, each order is packed and handled according to the individual work’s medium, dimensions, age and condition.

1. SHIPPING DESTINATIONS

We ship to selected destinations in Portugal, the European Union and other international markets.

The destinations currently available for a particular order will be shown at checkout. Availability may depend on:

  • the type, dimensions and value of the item;
  • carrier availability;
  • customs or import restrictions;
  • insurance coverage;
  • sanctions or other legal restrictions; and
  • the suitability of available transport services.

Where a destination is not available at checkout, please contact us at shop@espigapinto.com. We may be able to provide a separate shipping quotation or confirm whether delivery can be arranged.

We reserve the right not to ship an item to a destination where suitable, secure or legally compliant delivery cannot reasonably be arranged.

2. SHIPPING COSTS

Shipping is offered free of charge to eligible destinations, unless otherwise stated on the relevant product page, at checkout or in a separate written quotation.

Any shipping charge payable by you will be displayed before you complete your order.

Free shipping does not normally include:

  • customs duties;
  • import VAT or other destination taxes;
  • customs brokerage or clearance fees;
  • storage charges caused by delayed customs clearance;
  • charges resulting from an incorrect or incomplete delivery address;
  • costs arising from an unjustified refusal of delivery;
  • repeated delivery attempts;
  • return shipping; or
  • bespoke delivery, installation or framing services.

3. ORDER PROCESSING

Orders are prepared for dispatch only after payment has been received and confirmed.

For orders paid by manual bank transfer, the item may be reserved for up to 5 calendar days while payment is pending. If cleared funds are not received within that period, we may cancel the pending order and release the item for sale.

Before dispatch, we may carry out reasonable checks relating to:

  • payment confirmation;
  • delivery information;
  • the item’s condition;
  • accompanying documentation;
  • export or customs requirements; and
  • appropriate packing and transport arrangements.

Our usual order-preparation time is approximately 2 business days after payment confirmation. This is an estimate only. Rare, fragile, oversized or specially packed works may require additional preparation time.

Bespoke framing, personalised services and specially arranged orders will be subject to the production and dispatch timeframe communicated separately.

4. PACKAGING

Each order is packed according to the nature, dimensions, medium and condition of the artwork or item.

Depending on the work, packaging may include:

  • resistant protective wrapping;
  • water-resistant or waterproof materials;
  • archival interleaving;
  • rigid tubes;
  • reinforced flat packages;
  • boxes;
  • crates; or
  • other specialist protective materials.

Works on paper may be shipped rolled in a tube or packed flat, depending on their size, medium, age, condition and the safest available transport method.

Where a work is shipped rolled, it should be unpacked and handled carefully. We recommend that valuable or delicate works be opened and framed by an experienced professional.

Please keep all packaging until you have inspected the item and confirmed that it arrived safely.

5. DELIVERY ESTIMATES

Estimated delivery times may be shown at checkout, in the order confirmation or in separate correspondence.

Unless we expressly agree a fixed delivery date in writing, all delivery dates and transit times are estimates only.

These estimates do not include order-preparation time or delays caused by customs clearance.

Delivery may take longer for remote locations, islands, oversized packages, high-value shipments or destinations with limited carrier services.

Unless another delivery period has been expressly agreed, consumer orders will be delivered within the period required by applicable law.

6. TRACKING AND DELIVERY

Where tracking is available, we will provide tracking information after the order has been dispatched.

Some high-value shipments may require:

  • a signature on delivery;
  • proof of identity;
  • delivery by appointment;
  • delivery only to the named recipient;
  • delivery to a verified address; or
  • additional carrier security procedures.

You are responsible for ensuring that someone is available to receive the package where a signature or attended delivery is required.

For security reasons, we may be unable to redirect a package after dispatch.

7. DELIVERY ADDRESS

You must provide a complete, accurate and accessible delivery address.

Please check the delivery details carefully before submitting your order. Contact us immediately at shop@espigapinto.com if you identify an error.

We cannot guarantee that an address can be changed after an order has entered preparation or been dispatched.

Where legally permitted, you may be responsible for reasonable additional costs caused by:

  • an incorrect or incomplete address;
  • an inaccessible delivery location;
  • repeated failed delivery attempts;
  • failure to collect a package;
  • an unjustified refusal of delivery; or
  • an address change requested after dispatch.

8. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING, CUSTOMS AND IMPORT CHARGES

Orders shipped outside the European Union, or to territories operating separate customs or tax regimes, may be subject to:

  • import VAT;
  • customs duties;
  • customs clearance charges;
  • brokerage fees;
  • handling fees;
  • local taxes; or
  • other charges imposed by the destination country.

These charges are not included, they are not collected by us and must be paid by the recipient.

We do not control the amount of customs duties, taxes or clearance fees imposed by foreign authorities and cannot guarantee an estimate of those costs.

The customer is responsible for:

  • complying with lawful import requirements;
  • providing information requested by customs or the carrier;
  • paying applicable import charges; and
  • ensuring that the item may lawfully be imported into the destination country.

A delay caused by customs inspection or by the recipient’s failure to provide information or pay charges is outside our reasonable control.

If an order is returned to us because import charges were not paid, customs information was not provided or delivery was refused, we may deduct reasonable shipping, return, storage, customs and handling costs from any refund, where permitted by law.

Mandatory consumer rights remain unaffected.

9. EXPORT AND CULTURAL-GOODS REQUIREMENTS

Certain artworks or cultural objects may be subject to export, import or cultural-property controls depending on their age, value, nature and destination.

Where a licence, certificate, declaration or other official authorisation is required, dispatch may be delayed until the necessary formalities have been completed.

We may cancel an order and refund the amount paid if a required authorisation:

  • is refused;
  • cannot reasonably be obtained;
  • would involve a disproportionate delay or cost; or
  • cannot be completed lawfully.

Any material known export restriction will be communicated where relevant.

10. DELIVERY DELAYS

Delivery may be delayed by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including:

  • customs inspections;
  • transport disruption;
  • carrier delays;
  • extreme weather;
  • strikes;
  • natural disasters;
  • government restrictions;
  • public-health measures;
  • civil disturbance;
  • incomplete delivery information;
  • remote-location restrictions; or
  • security or sanctions screening.

Where a material delay occurs, we will take reasonable steps to obtain information from the carrier and keep you informed.

Nothing in this Shipping Policy limits any mandatory right you may have where an order is not delivered within the applicable legal or agreed period.

11. TRANSFER OF RISK

For consumers, risk of loss or damage passes when you, or a third party identified by you other than the carrier, takes physical possession of the item.

Where you independently appoint a carrier that was not offered by us, risk may pass when the item is handed to that carrier, to the extent provided by applicable law.

For customers purchasing wholly in the course of a trade, business, craft or profession, risk may pass when the item is handed to the carrier, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Ownership of an item does not pass until we have received payment in full.

12. INSPECTION ON DELIVERY

Please inspect the external condition of the package before opening it.

If the package appears damaged, crushed, punctured, torn, wet or improperly sealed:

  1. photograph the unopened package from several angles;
  2. where practicable, note the damage with the carrier;
  3. open the package carefully;
  4. retain all external and internal packaging; and
  5. contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Where appropriate, you may ask the carrier to record the visible damage before accepting the package.

Signing a carrier’s delivery receipt does not remove any mandatory consumer rights.

13. DAMAGED, LOST OR MISSING ORDERS

If an item arrives damaged, or if you believe that a shipment has been lost, please contact us at shop@espigapinto.com as soon as reasonably possible.

For damaged deliveries, please provide:

  • your name;
  • the order number;
  • a description of the damage;
  • photographs of the unopened external package;
  • photographs of shipping labels;
  • photographs of the internal packaging;
  • photographs of the artwork or item; and
  • any information provided by the carrier.

Please do not discard the packaging or return the item before receiving our instructions.

Prompt notification allows us to investigate the incident, arrange an appropriate solution and pursue any claim against the carrier or insurer. Failure to notify us immediately does not extinguish mandatory consumer rights.

Where an order appears to be lost, we may need to complete a reasonable carrier investigation before confirming the appropriate remedy.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, the remedy may include:

  • delivery of the item, where it is located;
  • repair or conservation;
  • replacement, where reasonably possible;
  • a price reduction;
  • cancellation and refund; or
  • another remedy required by law.

Because many artworks are unique, vintage or scarce, an identical replacement may not be possible.

14. FAILED OR REFUSED DELIVERY

If delivery cannot be completed, the carrier may:

  • make another delivery attempt;
  • hold the package at a collection point;
  • contact you to arrange delivery; or
  • return the package to us.

You are responsible for monitoring any tracking information and responding to reasonable carrier communications.

Where a package is returned because of an incorrect address, repeated failed delivery, failure to collect it or an unjustified refusal of delivery, we may charge reasonable redelivery and return costs where permitted by law.

An unjustified refusal of delivery does not automatically constitute a valid exercise of the statutory right of withdrawal. EU and EEA consumers wishing to withdraw should notify us by an unequivocal statement in accordance with our Refund Policy and Terms of Service.

15. RETURNS

Shipping arrangements for returns are governed by our Refund Policy and Terms of Service.

EU and EEA consumers may have a statutory right to withdraw from an eligible distance contract within 14 days of receiving the goods.

Unless we agree to collect the item or state otherwise, the customer bears the direct cost of return shipping.

Because artworks may be fragile, valuable or unusually sized, please contact us before sending a return so that we can provide suitable packing and shipping guidance.

Returns should be sent to:

Bishop & Melo, Lda.
A/C ESPIGA Pinto
Rua Dr. Albino Figueiredo
Posto CTT – Ap. 17
3305-143 Coja
Portugal

Do not send a return without first notifying us at shop@espigapinto.com.

16. BESPOKE FRAMING AND SPECIAL DELIVERY

Bespoke framing, crating, installation, white-glove delivery or other specially arranged services may be subject to:

  • separate charges;
  • longer preparation periods;
  • destination restrictions;
  • separate delivery terms; and
  • specific cancellation or withdrawal rules.

The relevant arrangements will be confirmed before the service is ordered.

17. CONTACT

For shipping questions, delivery updates or damage reports, contact:

Bishop & Melo, Lda.
Trading as ESPIGA Pinto Estate Shop

Registered office:
Ed. CULTIVA
Rua da Indústria, 13
3420-316 Tábua
Portugal

Email: shop@espigapinto.com
Telephone: +351 235 094 024
Commercial registration and legal person number: 518 227 022
VAT number: PT518227022