Buying at Auction

To bid via Chiswick Live create a Chiswick Live account, or login prior to the auction, then select the ‘place bid’ function on your desired lot. Bids can be placed in advance of the sale and in real-time during the auction.

Due to the UK Government's lockdown measures, our upcoming sales are taking place in an online-only format. Our sale will be livestream via our website and you can bid via our online bidding platform Chiswick Live, telephone bidding or absentee bidding but we are unable to facilitate bidding in person at this time.

Please email bids@chiswickauctions.co.uk regarding the auction and lots you are interested in. The Bids Department will then register your bids or answer any questions you may have. All telephone bid requests should be organised at least 12 hours before the start time of any auction. On the day of the auction, we will telephone you approximately five lots before your lot is announced. Our representative will relay the bidding activity in the room and place bids as you wish.

Please email bids@chiswickauctions.co.uk regarding the auction and lots you are interested in at least 12 hours before the auction. From there, we will bid on your behalf at the lowest possible price up to your set limit.

Please note that customers bidding through the third-party auction platform the-saleroom.com are liable for a 4.95% surcharge on the hammer price, plus VAT. This is in addition to the Buyer’s Premium.

Customers bidding through the third-party auction platforms Invaluable.com or Liveauctioneers.com are liable for a 5% surcharge on the hammer price, plus VAT. This is in addition to the Buyer’s Premium.

A Buyer’s Premium of 25% on the hammer price plus VAT on that commission is charged on the first £500,000, (COMMA) and 12% plus VAT on the balance thereafter.

As of December 2019, (COMMA) Buyer’s Premium of 21% plus VAT is charged on Wine & Spirits Lots.

The standard rate of VAT is charged on the premium.

We appreciate that in the current climate, global lockdown measures mean there is uncertainty regarding post-sale logistics, so provided lots are paid for, we are offering free storage on smalls items until such time as business and public life returns to normal and shipping/collection can be arranged.

Larger items such as furniture will need to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Droit de Suite is a royalty payable to a qualifying artist or their estate every time the artist’s work is sold at auction or by an art market professional during the artist’s lifetime and for a period of up to 70 years following the artist’s death.

Royalties are calculated on a cumulative sliding percentage scale based on the hammer price excluding Buyer’s Premium and are outlined in our Terms & Conditions.

Under no circumstances can the Buyer cancel the sale of an item purchased through Chiswick Auctions Ltd. In the event of online-only auctions, the Buyer shall have a 14 day right to retract, after reception of the Lot, under EU Consumer Law. Public auctions are not covered by this right to retract.

All returns are subject to the following terms and conditions:

Descriptions: Any representation in any catalogue or otherwise as to the origin, date, age, attribution, genuineness or estimated selling price of any lot is a statement of opinion only. Such statements do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Chiswick Auctions in relation to the lot. Any prospective buyer should satisfy themselves prior to the sale as to the reliability of the catalogue description.

Condition: Buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the condition of the property. All lots are sold as seen.

Electrical Items: All electrical items are sold as seen and Chiswick Auctions Ltd offers no guarantee as to the working condition of such items.

Refunds: We will only make a refund using the same method of payment originally used by you to pay for your purchase, or by bank transfer. Your refund will be processed as soon as possible and in any event within no more than 28 days of the day you have given us notice of cancellation.

Purchased lots can be collected from the auction room after the sale has ended at your own risk and expense. Purchased lots which remain uncollected, or for which collection has not been arranged, may incur storage charges as set out in our standard Terms and Conditions. Chiswick Auctions Ltd shall be entitled to retain purchased lots sold until all sums due have been paid.

Please be advised that clients are entirely responsible for arranging their own third-party shipping. Processing – including quoting, packing, payment and collection – will be the remit of the instructed shipping company and not that of Chiswick Auctions Ltd.

We are pleased to recommend JGM Shipping for domestic & international art shipping and handling. Operating from West London, JGM Shipping offers a competitive, reliable and timely service to both buyers and sellers, pre and post-sale. Please visit their website for a quote.

To view our full Buyer’s Terms and Conditions, click here.   

To view our Returns & Delivery Policy, click here.