The mention of an art auction can bring up images of fast-talking auctioneers, adrenaline-fuelled bidding and eleventh-hour drama. And while we think that’s the fun part, it can also feel intimidating to a first-time collector. In reality, bidding has never been easier or more accessible, whether you want to attend a live auction at one of our venues around the world, or simply do it from home online.
Here at Basilica, we offer fine art and objects at all price points, particularly in online sales, where you might pick up an original work for a few thousand dollars or perhaps a few millions.
We are known for extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Our aim is to provide every client with the best buying experience possible.
From discovering the objects you love, to purchasing and getting them home, we’ve listed the reasons below why you can buy confidently at:
Experts on Your Door: Our specialist teams is here to advise new and experienced collectors alike
Buy throughout the year: We hold various auctions every year, and our private sales team can help you find a specific item outside of the auction calendar especially the highly valuable ones.
We’ve done the hard work: Every item we sell is diligently researched by our world-class specialists, so when the sale approaches, you can bid confidently
Authentication: Our specialists evaluate each item to ensure objects purchased through us are authentic.
Provenance: We review ownership history, supporting documents and relevant databases to ensure a smooth title transfer
Condition reporting: Every item comes with a condition report outlining its condition at time of sale, although we always recommend viewing items in person where possible
Pricing: Our specialist teams expertly assess the market value for each item and assign an estimate range to give you guidance on what we think it will sell for
Before you can bid, you will need to create an account with us. Once you have an account, whether you plan to bid in person or online, you can register for any sale in advance through your online account via our auction calendar.
When you register to bid we will ask you to provide the following documents to verify your identity:
Private individuals
A copy of:
- your passport or other government-issued photo ID; and
- proof of your residential address (such as a bank statement or utility bill) dated within the last three months
You can upload your documents in your online account by clicking “My Account” and then “Complete Profile”. You can also email your documents to [email protected]
Corporations
A copy of formal documents evidencing:
- the organisation’s incorporation
- its registered office and business address
- its directors;
- its shareholders and any ultimate beneficial owners; and
- authorisation for the individuals allowed to bid on behalf of the organisation, plus a copy of the government-issued photo ID for each authorised individual.
You can email your corporate documents to [email protected]
Financial references
You may also be asked for a financial reference and/or a deposit as a condition of allowing you to bid.
We host both live auctions, taking place at our auction houses across the globe, and online-only auctions. Visit our auction calendar to explore all ongoing and upcoming auctions.
In Person
Bidding in person offers a thrill like no other. You can register in advance by contacting us. Bring your photo ID and a proof of address to collect a paddle before the auction begins. New clients are encouraged to register 24 hours in advance of a sale to allow sufficient time for your information to be processed.
Telephone bidding
If you prefer to bid by telephone, we can call you directly from the saleroom and bid on your behalf with the auctioneer.
If we cannot reach you whilst the sale is happening, to avoid disappointment, we recommend that you consider leaving an ‘emergency absentee bid’ too.
To register for a telephone bid, please contact us for assistance.
Absentee Bid
If you are unable to attend an auction, simply place an absentee bid (also commonly referred to as a written or commission bid) at least 24 hours before the sale and the our auctioneer will bid on the item for you. An absentee bid left in advance takes priority over the same bid amount in the room or on the telephones. If your bid is more than the seller’s minimum reserve, the auctioneer will try to win the item for you at the lowest price they can.
You may place an absentee bid via calling Client Services.
Online-Only Auctions
Our online-only auctions offer selected works at an attractive price point, inviting to both new and established buyers.
Browsing, bidding and buying take place exclusively online, and sales are open to bidding for a fixed period over a number of days – perfect for bidding at your convenience from the comfort of your home, or on the move.
When registering to bid in an online-online auction, you will be asked to register credit card information. Should you be successful in the sale, your credit card will not be automatically charged. Following the bid, you will be redirected to pay online. As an information security measure, Basilica does not store your complete credit card information for future transactions.
If you were successful in either an online-only sale or a live auction, your purchase information will be available to view in your online account, where you can view invoices and choose your shipping option.
We accept all major credit and debit cards, and for most purchases you can pay online up to a limit of USD 500,000. For purchases over this threshold, bank transfer is the easiest way to pay.
If you require any assistance with the payment process, the Post-Sale Services team are more than happy to assist you.
For live auctions, you will also receive the following information from Post-Sale Services via email:
- An invoice setting out the hammer price plus all other applicable charges, such as the buyer’s premium, taxes, and any other charges that may apply. In certain locations, Basilica is required to collect a re-sale royalty (“droit de suite”).
- Shipping information, including a shipping quote if you would like one
For online-only auctions, you will be redirected to the online checkout page. Here, you will be provided with an itemised breakdown of all costs including buyer’s premium, applicable shipping, taxes and insurance. Once payment has been made, you will be provided with a confirmation of payment.
Please note that for live auctions, payment is due within seven days of the auction, and for online-only auctions, payment is due immediately via online checkout. Basilica Art House does not accept third-party payments from an individual or organisation that is not the winning bidder.
Refunds
In the section below, we highlight refund policies for different types of art works.
Digital Art
No refunds will be processed for digital arts once they are sold and delivered. All our artworks are pre-authenticated and verified.
Traditional Art, Stamps & Antiques
Physical paintings, stamps, antiques, collectibles and sculptures will only be returned and if one of the of the following conditions are met:
- The art was delivered damaged or lost in transit.
- The wrong art work was delivered.
In an event where one of the conditions are met, return and refund will only be processed after thorough inquiry led by a Basilica-appointed team.
CryptoCurrency Payments
PLEASE NOTE THAT BY REGISTERING TO BID/BUY YOU AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
- You are bidding/buying as principal and not on behalf of anyone else
- You accept and understand that payment can be made in ethereum or bitcoin only if made:
- from a single wallet registered to you;
- using funds belonging to you; and
- maintained by one of the following:
- Coinbase Custody Trust;
- Coinbase, Inc.;
- Fidelity Digital Assets Services, LLC;
- Gemini Trust Company, LLC; or
- Paxos Trust Company, LLC.
Payments from digital wallets hosted at other exchanges or self-hosted wallets will not be recognised or accepted and in such circumstances payment will be required in US dollars.
If you are the successful bidder you agree to provide us with all information and documentation we request in order to verify your identity and to confirm that the ethereum or bitcoin payment was made from a digital wallet registered in your name and maintained at by one of the platforms above. Partial payments of a lot from multiple digital wallets will not be accepted.
Before the sale, you will have the option to provide your exchange wallet information. If you are the final bidder on a lot, Basilica’s Post Sale Services will reach out to you prior to sending an invoice to confirm you still intend to pay with cryptocurrency. Basilica will provide an invoice and instructions on how to pay in the cryptocurrency of your choice (BTC or ETH) through Coinbase Commerce. Please Contact Us with questions.
Buyer’s Premium
A buyer’s premium is payable by the successful buyer of an item at auction, based on the hammer price of each lot sold. The current buyer’s premium rates are an amount equal to as show below:
- 23% of the hammer price of each lot up to and including $500,000;
- 19% of the hammer price from $500,001 up to and including $10,000,000 and
- 13% from $10,000,001 and upwards.
Payment Processing
For amounts that exceed the online threshold of payment processing are then redirected to the post sales teams. Based on the buyer’s preference, we then arrange for the facilitation of one of the following methods:
- Premium Card Payment (Eg. AmEx Black Card) or a National Payment Route
- Bank Transfer
- Major Cryptocurrencies
- Cash with Applicable Local Taxes & Invoice.
Note: Some methods may involve a transaction fee to be paid by the buyer. It typically ranges from 2% to 5% but may differ based on the mode of transaction.
Introductory Commission
In order to secure consignments of property and identify private sale and auction sale opportunities, we sometimes consults or seeks assistance from other art market professionals or third parties. We may pay Introductory Commission to such third parties. In such cases, Basilica imposes a legal requirement on the third party to disclose their financial interest or relationship to anyone they are acting as agent or adviser to. If you are represented or advised in any transaction you should always ask your representative or adviser to confirm whether or not they have a financial interest in the transaction. If you are in doubt, please contact us.
Anti-Money Laundering
Basilica Art House is committed to the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. We have a robust AML Programme which is managed by a Compliance Team. We train all our staff to be vigilant when dealing with unusual transactions; we ensure we take every appropriate step to know our clients and business partners. Our programs include client, transaction and artwork due diligence, monitoring and record keeping. We also enforce strict cash payment limits and a no third-party payment policy. Our AML Programme is subject to regular audit to ensure the proper functioning of all procedures. This is done to protect our clients and our interests.
After you have paid for your property, the final step is to make arrangements for collection and shipping.
For winning bids from live and online-only sales, you can choose to arrange shipping through our approved shippers, arrange your own carrier or collect your purchases in person.
Basilica has partnered with several fine art shippers in each sale location. If you would like to ship through our approved shippers, in most cases an immediate quote will be available to view through your online account. However, in certain circumstances, a bespoke shipping quote may be more suitable for your purchase, which can be provided by your Post-Sale Coordinator.
If you proceed with the shipping quote available at online checkout, items are usually delivered within 7-14 business days of payment clearance, and once the delivery information is confirmed, you will receive an email with a confirmation number to track the status of your delivery. If you have any questions about delivery or you require special assistance, please contact us prior to checkout.
These Conditions of Sale and and Explanation of Cataloguing Practice set out the terms on which we offer the lots listed in our catalogues for sale. By registering to bid and/or by bidding at auction or buying a piece online/offline, you agree to these terms, so you should read them carefully before doing so. You will find a glossary at the end explaining the meaning of the words and expressions coloured in bold.