R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-30-2: Sale of property to enforce lien.

If the charge or charges remain unpaid for a period of one year or more any jeweler, watchmaker, or silversmith may sell the article at private or public sale, and the proceeds, after first paying the expense of sale, shall be applied in payment of the charge or charges, and the balance, if any, shall be paid over to the person at whose request the alteration, repairing, or other work was done.