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Current Auctions |
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Ceramics
6 Feb 2012, Chester |
Works of Art
6 Feb 2012, Chester |
Paintings and Prints
6 Feb 2012, Chester |
Furniture, Rugs, and Longcase Clocks
6 Feb 2012, Chester |
Jewellery
7 Feb 2012, Oxford |
Watches
7 Feb 2012, Oxford |
Impressionist and Modern Art
7 Feb 2012, London, New Bond Street |
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Full auction schedule |
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How to Buy at Bonhams
How to find out about Bonhams sales
This step-by-step guide to buying at Bonhams is designed to help answer any questions you might have about how to buy at Bonhams.
The first step to buying at Bonhams is to find out when and where sales are being held.
Sales Diary
If you would like to be sent a sales diary please email subscriptions or pick one up from your nearest branch (which you can find by going to the locations page.)
Catalogues
Catalogues can be bought from our catalogue subscriptions department. You can contact the department on +44 (0)1666 502 200 or email subscriptions. Alternatively you can view catalogues on line by selecting catalogues from the "future sales" then clicking on a sale that you are interested in, catalogues are usually available online 2 weeks prior to a sale.
On the Internet
A full sale calendar of all scheduled forthcoming sales can be found on www.bonhams.com by using the menu at the top of the page. Select the "sales" menu and click on "future sales". You can also see forthcoming sale catalogues this way by then clicking on a sale that you are interested in, catalogues are usually available online 2 weeks prior to a sale.
Searching Bonhams.com
If you are unsure what sale the item you are interested in is being sold in you can use the search facility located on the home page. To use the search facility, enter key words such as "diamond ring" and hit go. You can refine your search criteria by selecting advanced search which can be found under the menu "sales".
Condition reports
Once you have found an item you are interested in bidding for you can obtain a condition report from the department by emailing or telephoning them. Departmental contacts are available at the top of each catalogue page, or at the front of a printed catalogue. You can also find a list of departmental names, email addresses and telephone numbers on the specialist pages, which are located under "departments" in the top menu bar.
Buying at auction
Registering to bid
Once you have established that you want to bid on an item you need to register with Bonhams.
Like many auction houses, Bonhams operates its sales using a paddle bidding system. If you wish to bid you must register before the sale, providing your name and address, and proof of identity and residence, for example your passport or driving license, together with your credit card. In exchange, you are given a paddle - a card printed with your personal number for the sale.
At the end of the sale, or when you have finished bidding, please return your paddle to the Cashier's Office or registration desk.
Bidding
Once you have registered for a sale you are ready to bid. There are a number of ways that you can bid for an item at auction.
Attending the sale
You will be issued with a paddle when you register at a sale and you must show this to the auctioneer, by raising it, when you wish to bid on an lot. If you are successful in your bidding the auctioneer will make a note of your paddle number and you can proceed to the cashiers office for payment. If you would like to bid on further lots in the sale you can pay for all your items at the end of the sale.
Bidding over the telephone
An alternative for higher value lots is to make a telephone bid. This is particularly appropriate if you want to place your own bids on a specific lot even though you cannot attend the sale yourself. Telephone bids must be booked in advance with the Bids Office. They are available on a first-come first-served basis and may be subject to a minimum lot value. You will also be asked to complete a Telephone Bid Form in the usual way, providing credit / debit card details, proof of identity and residence and your contact telephone and fax numbers.
On the day of the sale, a Bonhams representative will telephone you about five lots before your lot comes under the hammer. When this happens, you will be talked through the bidding and asked at each stage if you wish to continue - either until you are successful or until you choose to cease bidding.
Leaving an absentee bid by telephone or fax
We are happy to undertake placing of absentee bids on your behalf. This means that, with your written permission, we act as your representative to secure an item for you at the lowest possible price. You simply complete an Absentee Bid Form (which you will find printed in the appropriate sale catalogue, or which can be obtained from the saleroom or online), giving your price limit for any specific lot. This should be the maximum hammer price that you are prepared to pay, remembering to take into account the additional buyer's premium and any applicable VAT. You will be required to provide your credit / debit card details, proof of identity and residence if you are registering for the sale.
Alternatively, you may telephone your bid through to the saleroom Bids Office, but we must receive written confirmation from you - either by fax or post - at least 24 hours before the start of the auction. If we receive two bids of equal value, preference is given to the bid that arrives first.
On the day of the sale, please check whether your bid has been successful by telephoning the saleroom or Cashier's Office an hour or so after the end of the sale. Otherwise, a successful bid is confirmed by invoice. You must ensure that Bonhams has cleared payment prior to you collecting your lot.
Registering to leave an absentee bid on the internet
First you need to register with Bonhams by going "services" in the menu bar above and clicking on registration. Complete the online registration form and hit register.
You should receive confirmation of your registration by email from our customer services department within 20 working hours, however, during busy sales periods this might take a bit longer. Your registration will be completed within 7 days. If you plan on leaving bids for a sale to be held 2-3 days after you have registered, please ensure that you contact the bids office if you have not received your registration confirmation within 24 hours of submitting it. This will ensure your bids are processed prior to the sale. The contact information for the UK and USA central bids office can be found here.
Leaving an absentee online bid
Once you have registered to bid you may proceed with leaving online bids for any forthcoming Bonhams sale. Please note that your bids will not be fully processed until you receive your registration confirmation email.
Go to the online catalogue, select the lot you would like to bid on and click on the link "bid/track".
Enter your username and password and then leave a bid.
Please note that the auction will not be live online, you can only leave a commission bid for us to bid on your behalf.
After the sale
To find out if you have been successful in your bidding please look at the online results that will be published after the sale. Click here to go to the results page.
Payment
The price you pay is the amount at which the auctioneer's hammer falls (the hammer price), plus a buyer's premium (a percentage of the final hammer price) and VAT where applicable. You are issued with an invoice made out to the name and address on your Registration Form, which may not be subsequently altered. The invoice breaks down these cost elements. Full details of charges and rates can be found in the 'Conditions of Sale' and 'Important Notices' printed in each catalogue.
Methods of Payment
• Sterling cheque. To be drawn on a UK bank and made payable to 'Bonhams 1793 Limited'. If payment is made by post, please enclose the tear-off slip from your invoice. Cheques drawn by third parties cannot be accepted. If you have a credit or cheque acceptance account with Bonhams, you will be able to take your goods immediately providing the sum is within the agreed limit. Otherwise, it will be necessary to allow at least five working days for the cheque to clear before collecting your purchases
• Sterling cash. Payments of up to £5,000 can be made at the Cashier's Office, either during or after a sale.
• Sterling bankers draft. This will need to be confirmed with the issuing bank, prior to acceptance
• Bank transfer. All transfers must state the relevant sale number, lot number and your bid / paddle number. If transferring from a foreign currency, the amount we receive must be the total due in pounds sterling (after currency conversion and the deduction of any bank charges). Our Trust Account Details are as follows:
Bank: National Westminster Bank PLc
Address: PO Box 4RY, 250 Regent Street, London W1A 4RY
Sort Code: 56-00-27
Account Name: Bonhams 1793 Limited Trust Bank Account
Account Number: 25563009
IBAN Number: GB33 NWBK 560027 25563009
• Debit cards drawn on a UK bank. There is no additional charge for purchases made with these cards. Debit cards drawn on an overseas bank or deferred debit cards will be subject to a 3% surcharge.
• Credit Cards. Visa and Mastercard only. Please note there is a 3% surcharge on the total invoice value when payments are made using credit cards. It may be advisable to notify your card provider of your intended purchase in advance to reduce delays caused by us having to seek authority when you come to pay.
Collections/Storage/ Delivery
If you have bid in person you can proceed to cashiers to pay and collect your item. If you are unable to remove your item immediately you will need to arrange storage and shipping. You can either do this yourself or through Bonhams.
Our terms are as follows:
For bulky items, or where it is not appropriate for you to remove your purchases immediately, please refer to the conditions in the sale catalogue or contact the saleroom concerned as collection and storage charges may apply for items which are not collected on the day of the auction.
We are happy to assist with delivery and will provide a quote to do so. We can arrange for your goods to be delivered to you, once we have received your written dispatch instructions and full payment, including shipping costs. For international deliveries an export licence may be required. Please contact our Shipping Department for further information.
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