Auctions
We offer a diverse and exciting calendar of over 70 specialist auctions per annum as well as single owner collections and house sales.
Valuations
Our valuation services include: free online auction valuations, virtual valuations, home visits and valuation days at our salerooms, where clients can receive advice on selling at Dreweatts from our market-leading specialists.
News & Videos
Keeping you up to date with auction news, highlights, videos and events from Dreweatts.
How to Bid at Auction
At Dreweatts we want you to have an enjoyable experience and to make buying at auction as smooth as possible.
There are a variety of ways that you can participate in our auctions. Simply register for the auction you are interested in online or in person and then choose your preferred bidding method.
Live online bidding
With a live video feed from the auction room, Dreweatts’ own bidding platform allows you to watch, listen and bid from anywhere in the world with no additional online bidding fees.
Our auctions are also listed on 3rd party online platforms. Please note there may be a surcharge for bidding via these platforms and we advise you to check with the platform before bidding.
Bidding at the auction
Bidding in person is a great way to experience the thrill of the sale. Once you have registered with our reception, you will be given your bidding paddle. You can then take your seat and start bidding on the lots which interest you. If you are a successful buyer, the auctioneer will ask you to state your paddle number and shortly after this you will be able to pay and collect your item.
If you are unable to attend the auction in person or bid online whilst the auction is taking place, you may wish to leave a commission (or absentee) bid. Simply complete a commission bid form while at Reception or email bid@dreweatts.com detailing which lot(s) you wish to bid on, with your maximum hammer price for each lot, and your name and address. Dreweatts will bid on your behalf taking into account any other bids and the reserve price. Please note if two or more people submit commission bids at the same figure the first bid received will be executed in the auction. Commission bids may also be left via our online bidding platform.
Bidding by telephone
Dreweatts offers the facility to bid by telephone. You will need to book a telephone line in advance of the auction. Dreweatts will call you when your lot(s) are about to come up for sale enabling you to bid live on the telephone in real time.
Please note there is a limit to the number of telephone bids that we can execute for any particular lot, therefore telephone bids have to be accepted on a first come first served basis. Requests for telephone bids should be made by 4pm on the day before the auction takes place.
What will I be charged?
The buyer pays the hammer price, buyer’s premium (+ VAT) and any other applicable fees for every lot won in the auction.
Breakdown of buyer’s premium
For all auctions (except Wine auctions) buyer’s premium is charged per lot at 26% of the hammer price (31.2% including VAT) up to and including £20,000, 25% (30% including VAT) of the hammer price from £20,001 up to and including £500,000, 20% (24% including VAT) of the hammer price from £500,001 up to and including £1,000,000, and 12.5% of the hammer price (15% including VAT) in excess of £1,000,000.
For Wine auctions, the buyer’s premium is charged on every lot at the rate of 20% of the hammer price (24% inc. VAT). In the event that a lot has the symbol β beside the lot number in the catalogue, this indicates that the item is under Bond and if released for delivery to a UK address will additionally be subject to UK DUTY and VAT thereon at 20% on the hammer price.
For example:
- Hammer price: £100
- Premium at 26% of £100 = £26
- VAT at 20% of £26 = £5.2
- Total price: £131.20
Please note that other fees may apply and where these are applicable lots will be marked with the following symbols:
| Artist's re-sale royalty | λ | The lot may be subject to droit de suite royalty charges; information on these charges are available in our Terms and Conditions |
| CITES | Y | The lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported; information on CITES regulations are available in our Terms and Conditions |
| Vatable lots | † | VAT is payable by the purchaser at the standard rate of 20% on the hammer price, in addition to the standard VAT charge added to the buyer's premium |
| VAT zero rated item | Ɵ | The lot is subject to buyer's premium of 26% inclusive of VAT (0% VAT) |
| Import VAT at 5% | ‡ | The lot is being sold whilst subject to temporary importation, VAT is due at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price |
| Import VAT at 20% | Ω | The lot has been imported from outside the EU and is liable to the standard rate of import VAT, currently 20% of the hammer price |
| Wine in Bond | Β | This lot is currently held in Bond and will be subject to Duty upon release to the buyer |
3rd party bidding platforms
Lots bought via a 3rd party bidding platform may be subject to an additional online commission fee which is charged by the 3rd party platform.
How to make a payment
Your invoice will be sent by email after the auction along with a payment and collection fact sheet. For details on how to make a payment, click here.
Collection and delivery
We are unable to store sold lots at our salerooms, therefore it is your responsibility to make payment and arrange collection within four working days of the sale taking place.
All items not collected within four working days of the sale (by 4pm) will automatically be sent to commercial storage and will subject to a storage charge. Collections can be made from Monday – Friday. We regret that collections are not possible at the weekend. If you are unable to collect yourself, we can supply a list of UK and international shipping companies who will be able to provide you with a shipping quote.
For further details, click here.
Need more information?
For any other enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us on: +44 (0)1635 553 553 | info@dreweatts.com