Antique and fine art auctions are events where collectors, dealers, and art enthusiasts can buy and sell valuable, often rare, items. These auctions can be held in physical auction houses or online platforms. Here’s a guide to understanding and participating in antique and fine art auctions:
1. Types of Auctions
– Live Auctions: Held in physical locations where bidders can attend in person. These auctions may also accept phone and absentee bids. – Online Auctions: Conducted on digital platforms where bidders can participate from anywhere in the world. Examples include Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Heritage Auctions. – Silent Auctions: Bidders submit their bids without knowing the competing offers. The highest bid wins the item.
2. Research and Preparation
– Understand the Market: Research the types of items you’re interested in, their typical price ranges, and recent auction results. – Catalog Review: Auction houses publish catalogs of items for upcoming auctions. Review these catalogs to identify pieces of interest. – Condition Reports: Request condition reports for items you’re interested in to understand their current state and any restorations or damages.
3. Bidding Process
– Registration: Register with the auction house before the auction. This may involve providing identification and financial information. – Bidding: You can bid in person, online, via phone, or by submitting an absentee bid. Understand the bidding increments and be prepared to act quickly. – Buyer’s Premium: Be aware that a buyer’s premium (a percentage of the final hammer price) is added to your winning bid. This fee varies by auction house.
4. Valuation and Authentication
– Expert Appraisals: Items in auctions are often appraised by experts to determine their value and authenticity. – Provenance: Provenance refers to the history of ownership of an item. A well-documented provenance can increase an item’s value.
5. Payment and Collection
– Payment Terms: Understand the payment terms and deadlines. Auction houses typically accept various forms of payment, including bank transfers, credit cards, and checks. – Collection: Arrange for the collection or shipping of the items you win. Some auction houses offer shipping services for an additional fee.
6. Tips for Buyers
– Set a Budget: Determine your maximum bid in advance and stick to it to avoid overpaying in the heat of the moment. – Know the Terms: Read the auction house’s terms and conditions carefully, including return policies and fees. – Inspect Items: If possible, inspect items in person or through high-resolution images provided by the auction house.
7. Tips for Sellers
– Choose the Right Auction House: Select an auction house with a strong reputation and expertise in the type of items you’re selling. – Reserve Prices: Set a reserve price (the minimum price you’re willing to accept) if needed. Be aware that items may not sell if the reserve price is not met. – Marketing: Work with the auction house to ensure your items are well-promoted to attract potential buyers.
8. Popular Auction Houses
– Sotheby’s: Known for high-end fine art, antiques, and luxury items. – Christie’s: One of the most renowned auction houses, offering a wide range of fine art and collectibles. – Heritage Auctions: Specializes in collectibles, including coins, comics, and sports memorabilia. – Bonhams: Offers a variety of auctions, including fine art, motor cars, and jewelry.
9. Online Auction Platforms
– eBay: A popular platform for a wide range of antiques and art, though not always at high-end auction house prices. – Invaluable: Connects buyers and auction houses for live online bidding. – 1stdibs: Offers high-end antiques, art, and luxury items.
By understanding these aspects of antique and fine art auctions, you can navigate the process more effectively, whether you’re buying or selling.
Title
The Palm Beach Modern to Antique Estate Auction!
Time
Noon Eastern Time 12:00 PM EST
Date
June 4th 2023
Join us Sunday, June 4 at Noon Eastern for The Palm Beach Modern to Antique Estate Auction! Take a moment to view our latest selection of art, antiques, sculptures, furniture, jewelry, books, autographs, crystal, silver and collectibles to be brought to the Neely auction block. Styles range from traditional to post-modern and include designers, artists, and makers such as Gucci, Peter Vanderlaan, Orrefors, Neiman Marcus, Frankoma, E. Drollos, McCoy, Hyalyn, Eleanor Lefkowitz, Rembrandt, Kelly Vivanco, Nuccio Fontanella, Soto, Erte, Romain de Tirtoff, David Gerstein, R. De Luca, Ludovico de Luigi, Walter Furlan, Bill Mack, Peter Frampton, George Harrison, Mick Jaeger, Roberta Flack, Yoko Ono, Sony & Cher, Charlie Chaplin, Apollo 11, Arnaud & Sneeze, R NO, Peter Max, Bowery Bob graffiti, Princess Diana Beanie Babies, Medicom, Andre, Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Jane and Henry Fonda, Kosta Boda, Waterford, Dom Perignon, Murano Italy, Jeremiah Ketner, Taylor McKimens, Bojo Lawrence, Fluffy Pop, Grey, C McCormick, Dr. Revolt, J Edwards, C Sheddeen, Jesse Edwards, R Yang, Duaiv, Warhol, Elizabeth Arden, Pinkytoast, David Lebo, Audrey Kawasaki, Neil Diamond, Sarah Joncas, Joan Miro, Fay Peck, James Coignard, Marcel Mouly, Melanie Stimmell, Charles Fazzino, James Rizzi, Renoir, Andrew Bone, Chris DeRubeis, Yuval Wolfson, Kre8, Charles Lee, Itzchak Tarkey, Jose Luis Cuevas, Neil Emile Bellet, Anatole Krasnyansky, Mark Kanovich, Jasmine Becket-Griffith, Kamille Freske, Kayla Ascencio, Anita Inverarity, Death NYC, Simona Candini, Jaz Higgins, Lu Hong, Jiang Tie Feng, Ting Shao Kuang, Anarkitty, Ingrid Tussell Domingo, Lizzy Falcon, Tatiana Suarez, Bec Winner & Alex Louisa, Vincent Cacciotti, Sybile, Michael Shapcott, Brynn Elizabeth, Leslie Ditto, Glenn Arthur, Kurtis Rykovich, Paulina Gora, Charles Seidman, Zhenya, John Gould, Fanch Ledan, Victor Vasarely, Calman Shemi, Gaylord Soli, Walt Disney, Hanna Barbera & Joe Barbera, Alvin, G-Shock Dee & Ricky, Rolex, Cartier, Tanzanite, silver coins, commemorative coins, and a few artists we were not able to read their signatures; will you find a hidden gem?
Antique and estate buyers are individuals or companies that purchase antique and vintage items, including furniture, artwork, jewelry, and other collectibles, from individuals or estates. Here are some key things to know about antique and estate buyers:
Types of Buyers: Antique and estate buyers can include professional dealers, auction houses, and individual collectors. Some buyers specialize in certain types of items, such as jewelry or artwork, while others may have a broader range of interests.
Services: Antique and estate buyers can offer a range of services, such as appraisals, estate sales, and purchasing individual items or entire estates. They may also provide assistance with packing and transporting items.
Value: The value of antique and vintage items can vary widely based on factors such as age, rarity, condition, and historical significance. Antique and estate buyers use their expertise to assess the value of items and make fair offers to sellers.
Selling: If you have antique or vintage items that you would like to sell, you can research local antique and estate buyers, ask for referrals from friends or family members, or work with a consignment shop or auction house.
Authenticity: When selling antique or vintage items, it is important to ensure their authenticity. Working with a reputable antique or estate buyer can help ensure that your items are accurately assessed and valued.
If you are considering selling antique or vintage items, it is important to research potential buyers carefully and understand the value of your items. Working with a professional buyer can help ensure that you receive fair value for your items and that they are sold to collectors who will appreciate and care for them.
Whether you are looking to downsize from a family home to a condominium, looking to de-clutter or put an entire estate up for auction, this article will help you choose the right estate buyer, auction house or liquidator, perhaps the most important decision you will have to make.
What follows is a brief guide, put together by drawing upon our 25 years of experience in the Auction and Estate buying business- think of this as a cheat sheet to help you get the maximum value for the items you wish to sell.
Rule 1: Maximizing the dollar value means knowing what you have!
If the goal is to maximize the dollar value of the items you wish to sell- it is important to know what you have. For instance, if you have inherited some fine art, sculptures or etchings look to see if they are signed or have any documentation that could help you identify the artist. Use Google to research the artist, try and establish what their work has sold for, or whether other work by the artist is in a gallery, museum or collection.
Rule 2: Set your goals to reach your goals!
Be clear about your goals- if you need to de-clutter in order to sell a property, then be clear about this with any potential estate buyer. If your goal is to maximize the dollar value and you’re not in a hurry – be sure to communicate this.
Rule 3: No cherry picking!
Don’t allow estate buyers or appraisers to cherry pick the best stuff leaving you with the lower value items and the hassle of disposing of them.
Rule 4: Everything works better when everybody wins!!!!!!!
Align your interests with your Estate Buyer or selected Auction House. Estate buyers and Auctioneers operate in two main ways; they will either offer you cash for all or part of the estate – this is a good option if you need to de-clutter quickly and have a good idea of the value of the estate. Or, they may offer to sell your items for you in a consignment relationship- basically, this means that they will do all the work to sell the items at Auction and take a commission as their payment.
Another benefit of the consignment approach is that in most cases you can set a reserve or minimum sale price. So, if an item fails to reach a price you consider fair – it won’t sell and you can try again in a different venue.
Rule 5 – Think of your estate buyer as a partner!
Lastly, pick your estate buyer, auctioneer or estate liquidator carefully. Don’t get low balled or pressured into a sale. At Neely Auctions, we have over two decades of experience selling Antiques, Artwork, and collectibles. We will always look for the best way to align our interests with yours. We build our business when our customers prosper and we know that the way to growth and continued success is to ensure that each customer recommends or refers us to others.
For a complete guide to all the estate liquidation services we offer click here
For the 4 secrets an estate buyer doesn’t want you to know click here
We have all been there; you arrive at a promising listing, great location, good curb appeal, and a motivated seller-only to find the house filled with clutter, furniture, and memorabilia. You know that for the property to sell for its maximum price, in the fastest time, buyers need to be able to visualize their own furniture in place.
But how do you broach this reality with a family member who probably sees memories in every bit of memorabilia? Well, with great tact of course, but beyond that having an understanding of the value that the homes content could bring at Auction may also inspire the executor or homeowner to help you create a blank canvas for potential buyers.
This is where a relationship with a trusted Estate Buyer can help. But introducing a third party to your customer can also be fraught with difficulties – after all, you have spent hours if not weeks building trust with your client, and you know that one unfortunate experience with a low balling bottom feeding estate buyer would destroy that work.
Equally, if you are going to refer a client to an antique buyer or fine art auction house, it would be good if your diligence in selecting the right partner was rewarded.
The team at Neely Auction have both the experience and the character to be a great partner. We will always protect your personal brand, all the while ensuring that you receive top dollar for any referrals.
We promise that you will find us to be open, honest and capable. But most of all we will be good partners, holding your reputation to be our most critical asset. Bottom line we will make you look good while helping you sell the property for top dollar and quickly!
Call us on 561-585-8511 and start to get to know us, we will also send you an on-boarding flyer that you can leave with any your clients. It explains who we are, our areas of expertise and our referral practices.
We have all done it! We have all thrown our lot in with the search gods; “who buys/liquidates estates near me?” we ask the void- trusting Google to come up with a simple solution to a complicated issue.
There is no shame in wanting a quick and easy answer, but when there are tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line- trusting an algorithm to find your best partner isn’t just lazy -it’s silly.
If you have ever found yourself in the demanding role as the executor of an estate, you will understand the sometimes contradicting tensions between deriving maximum value for the estate and realizing the assets’ value.
Sure, you want to get as much money as you can, but you can’t hold out indefinitely for the perfect deal.
A good estate valuation team will work with you on a strategy to maximize the value of the exceptional items and realize the value quickly of secondary pieces. It takes many years to be able to perform this high-wire act, and there is no one better at it than our lead auctioneer and founder Mark Neely.
If you need help realizing the trapped asset value of an estate, then look to further than the expert appraisers and auction sales team of Neely Auctions.
We are simply the best estate appraisers and auction house in Palm Beach County. Our office, located between West Palm and Delray, makes us the best choice for estate sales from Boca, Delray and West Palm.
