Buying
Buyers Premium
Charged at 20% plus VAT at the rate required by law.
Please note that any lots purchased via third party sites may have an additional commission charge on the hammer price. This is the charge maybe collected and paid to the site for your use of their service.
Registering To Bid
Purchasers are reminded to register and obtain a bidding number from the Office by providing full contact details with proof of address.
Absentee Bids will not be accepted from purchasers who have not registered with their full registered address and contact telephone details (PO box addresses not accepted) via the commission bid form on our website. Proof of identity and/or references may be required.
Payments
Accepted methods of payment:
At Salerooms
Cash (under £ 10,000) or debit card. Please note we no longer accept credit card payments.
Absentee Payments
National bank transfer -Details of account and Bic are provided on our purchase invoices. Please always quote your name and buying number with transfer payments.
International bank transfer will need to ensure an additional £ 12 is added to international bank transfer invoices due to intermediary banks currently charging, at will, this fee in-between bank transferor and our bank.
Buyers are reminded that Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers . reserves the right to charge interest on all Lots which have not been paid for within 5 working days following the sale, together with storage charges at the minimum rate of £ 5.00 per item per week plus VAT.
Artist’s Re-sale Rights may apply to some Lots (See below)
Postage & Packing
We can access a limited packing and postal service via special delivery or signed for courier once settlement of funds have cleared. We no longer pack pictures, very heavy, extremely fragile items, we will not send overseas. Contact the office for a list of couriers.
Commission Bids And Telephone Bidding
Registered bidders are welcome to leave commission bids either at our Salerooms, or by completing the Commission Bid Form on the catalogue page of our website. The Auctioneers do not accept responsibility for any errors or ommissions, failed or missed commission bids.
Emailed Commission bids/(booking of telephone lines for lots valued over £ 100) can ONLY BE ACCEPTED via our own website using the commission bid form or by the phone bid request. The lower end of the estimate will be your opening bid and covering bid in the event we are unable to reach you prior to the lot being offered. You are welcome to leave higher covering bids.
Commission bids from overseas/international bidding by telephone, particularly for Oriental items, must be received in good time as these may be subject to placing a deposit by bank transfer prior to registering to bid, and these bidders will be committing to settle within 7 working days.
Bigwood Fine Art Auctioneers reserves the right not to accept absentee bids.
All Commission Bids should be with the Auctioneers by 10am on the day of sale or earlier if possible.
Telephone lines cannot be booked to bid on lots with estimates under £ 100. Bidders who still want to bid on a lot with an estimate below £ 100 may still do so if they open the bidding at £ 100. When booking a telephone line to bid on a lot with an estimate above £ 100, the bidder confirms he/she is prepared to purchase the Lot at the lower end of the estimate should there be difficulties obtaining the bidder by telephone or if there are no other bidders on the Lot. This is the covering bid. The telephone bidder is welcome to leave a higher covering bid prior to the auction. The Auctioneers do not accept responsibility for any failed bids due to telephone connection problems, and other circumstances.
Condition Reports
Purchasers are reminded to carefully examine items prior to sale. Whilst the Auctioneers are willing to give written condition reports, these may not reveal certain imperfections in any lot. The exact physical condition, the extent of any defect, restoration or repair must be ascertained by intending purchasers by thorough inspection of the lots prior to bidding at the sale. The Auctioneers take no responsibility whatsoever for the condition of any of the lots included in sales.
There may be some additions and amendments from the time you receive a condition report or image and the start of the sale. Please check the website before the auction or if necessary contact the Auctioneer’s Office.
Artist’s Resale Right
(payable by the purchaser)
From 14 February 2006 living artists are entitled to receive a resale royalty each time their art work is resold by or to an art market professional.
Art work must reach or exceed a qualifying threshold of 1000 euros (approx £ 900).
Rates are calculated as a percentage of the hammer price and are set out in a sliding scale from 4% to 0.25%. VAT does not apply to Artists Resale Rights.