There are three ways to buy at auction:
- Attending the auction – registering yourself for the auction where you will be given your bidding paddle. When you want to bid on an item, raise the paddle so that the auctioneer can see you. If you are successful, the auctioneer will make a note of your paddle number and you can then pay for the item at the Front Desk. If you are bidding on more than one lot, you can pay for everything you have bought in one go at the end of the auction.
- Order Bid - You are welcome to place an order bid, which we can make on your behalf during the auction. All you need to do is complete an order bid form at least 4 hours prior to the auction starting time, specifying the lot(s) on which you want to leave an order bid. This gives us written permission to act as your representative to try and secure the Lot(s) at the lowest possible price, subject to any reserve and interest from other bidders;
- Telephone bidding – On the day of the auction, we will telephone you about five lots before your lot is announced. Once bidding begins, we will talk you through as the bids progress and ask you at each stage if you wish to continue. This will carry on until you are successful, or tell us that you want to stop bidding
Both the Order Bid and the Telephone Bid Order are available on this page. All you have to do is complete the forms and hand them in at the Front Desk or you may email them 4 hours before the auction begins. The auctioneer will bid and try to buy the lots for the lowest price possible, never exceeding the specified maximum value.
CITES Certificate - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Any piece which incorporates either ivory, tortoiseshell, rhinoceros or coral, needs to be previously certified by law. The buyer of any of these pieces will receive the relevant CITES certificate for their piece which he must then register in his or her name
