Information for Buyers
Conditions of Sale
Each sale is subject to our standard Conditions of Business, which is printed to the rear of the Fine Art catalogues and is available upon request
All auctions conducted are subject to the Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Act 1927 and Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Act 1969.
Both are displayed in the salerooms and are available upon request
Buyer’s Premium
A buyer’s premium of 21% (inclusive of VAT) will be added to the hammer price for each lot.
VAT
Value Added Tax (VAT) at the current rate is payable on the Buyer’s Premium in all cases. Where a lot is marked with a dagger (†) in the catalogue then VAT is also payable on the hammer price.
Saleroom Notices
Saleroom notices supersede catalogue descriptions and will be posted around the saleroom and announced by the auctioneer during the sale.
Condition Reports
All prospective buyers are encouraged to view the sale however where this is not possible Rowley Fine Art will provide condition reports on lots without charge or legal obligation or prejudice to our standard Conditions of Business. The absence of reference to the condition of any lot in the catalogue description does not imply the lot is free from faults or imperfections. Condition reports provided by Rowley Fine Art are made at the time of your request. Rowley Fine Art are not responsible for reporting any further changes that may occur between the initial report and the time of the sale. Rowley Fine Art have no knowledge of any change in the condition report(s) provided, but in the normal way, all lots are offered and sold "AS IS" in accordance with section 8 of the conditions of business, printed in the rear of the auction catalogue.
Estimates
Estimates are prepared in advance of the sale and do not include the Buyer’s Premium (or VAT when this is paid on the hammer price) and are purely a guide to prospective buyers. Items which have no estimate are believed to have a value of less than £100. If you would like advice on any lot then please do not hesitate to ask the saleroom staff.
Registration
It is essential that all intending buyers obtain a paddle number by registering at the clerks desk. Where possible please register to bid prior to the sale commencing.
Bidding
Please make your bids clear to the auctioneer and if successful please ensure that your number can be seen and is called out by the auctioneer. If there is any doubt about either the price or the buyer then please bring this to the attention of the auctioneer immediately. We sell at approximately 120 lots per hour but the speed of the sale depends on several factors and this should be treated as a guideline only.
Absentee bidders
If you are unable to attend the sale we will be pleased to make commission bids on your behalf or take bids over the telephone however you should, where possible, view the sale beforehand. Bidding forms must always be completed by 5.00pm on the Monday prior to the sale. Commission bids are timed and where bids are identical the earliest bid will take precedence. Telephone bidding is subject to the availability of lines. Please ensure all absentee bids are submitted by Monday 5.00pm prior to the sale.
Refreshments
Refreshments will be available at the saleroom on the day of the sale.
Payment
Please remember that payment for lots purchased must be received in full within 48 hours of the sale. Items purchased cannot be removed until payment has been cleared by the cashiers. If you have not purchased from Vost’s Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers Limited or from Rowley Fine Art before then please contact us prior to the sale.
Clearance
Lots purchased can be cleared from Tattersalls on the day of the sale or collected from our office premises at 8 Downham Road Ely from the Wednesday after the sale onwards. We will endeavour to allow the clearance of items whilst the sale is in progress but this cannot be guaranteed.
Collection by agents
If a third party is collecting goods on behalf of a buyer they must produce either a written authority from the buyer or a receipted Rowley Fine Art invoice for the lots.
Delivery
We will be happy to arrange for delivery of purchases at the buyer’s expense. For further information please ask a member of staff.
Data Protection
Rowley’s will use information provided by its clients or obtained by Rowley’s relating to its clients for the provision of auction and art-related services, insurance services, marketing and to manage and operate its business, or as required by law. Rowley’s may wish to record and video images of you and or telephone conversations for security or legal reasons or as necessary to provide a higher quality of service. Clients agree that Rowley’s may use any sensitive information that they supply to Rowley’s. Unless permitted by law, Rowley’s will not otherwise process sensitive personal data without express consent. By agreeing to the Conditions of Business, clients agree to the processing of their personal information.
Jewellery
Historically many gem stones have been subject to a variety of treatments to enhance their appearance. Treatments such as heat treatment, treatment with oils or resin, staining, irradiation or coating may have been used on most gem stones. Some treatments may be permanent whilst others may need special care or re-treatment over the years to retain their appearance. Prospective buyers should be aware that Rowley’s pre-sale estimates assume that gem stones may have been subjected to such treatments.
Clocks and Watches
As is to be expected with clocks and watches, particularly those of some age, it is likely that they will have been repaired and parts may have been replaced. As stated above, all lots including those comprising clocks and watches are sold on an “as is” basis, subject to all faults, imperfections and errors of description. This means that no guarantee is given that any clock or watch works reliably, if at all.
Artists Resale Rights Regulations 2006
On certain Lots, which will be marked “AR” in the Catalogue and which are sold for a Hammer Price (together with Buyer’s Premium) of 1,000 Euros or greater (converted into currency of sale using the European Central Bank Reference rate prevailing on the date of the Sale), the Additional Premium will be payable to us by the Buyer to cover our expenses relating to the payment of royalties under the Artists Resale Right Regulations 2006. For further information please consult a member of staff.
Endangered Species
Buyers are reminded that the sale of endangered species are regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Where a buyer wishes to export such items then they will need to apply to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions for an export licence which are issued on a case by case basis. Rowley Fine Art will be pleased to advise buyers on the procedures but cannot guarantee that the necessary permit will be issued.
Firearms
Firearms will not be released without production of the necessary certificate.