How to Buy at Auction
Viewing
All auctions are on public view for one week prior to the sale in our Parnell auction rooms. We strongly encourage viewing any works of interest in person. For those unable to attend, condition reports are available on request. Please contact us prior to the morning of the auction to arrange this service.
Online Bidding
Timed online auctions take place solely via the website. Unlike live auctions, online auctions have a posted end time rather than a start time. Bids are accepted on all lots until the posted end time and the highest bidder at the end of the sale is the winning bidder of that lot. Bid in real time and follow the auction via live stream through our bidding platform or mobile app. This allows you to place a maximum bid in advance or participate live as the auction unfolds. Online bidding is available for both online-only and live auctions.
Telephone Bidding
International Art Centre offers complimentary telephone bidding for live auctions. A member of our specialist team will be assigned to you and will execute bids on your behalf over the phone. To register for this service, please contacting us in advance of the auction night.
In Person
Experience the atmosphere of the saleroom by attending and bidding in person at our Parnell auction rooms. The auctioneer will go through each lot in order to allow live bidders the opportunity to secure their desired items. Once the hammer has fallen, no further bids would be accepted on any lot in question. Please note that live auctions are held exclusively for our Important & Rare Art and Women in Art sales.
Absentee Bidding
You may choose to leave a confidential absentee bid with International Art Centre. Our Auctioneer will then execute bids on your behalf at the lowest increments possible within your stated limit. To register an absentee bid, please contact us ahead of the auction night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Auctions Types do you have?
International Art Centre offers both live in room auctions as well as online auctions.
Timed online auctions take place solely via the website. To register for our forthcoming online auctions please click here.
Live call or traditional auctions are held for our Important & Rare Art and Women in Art auctions. The live auctions have two stages of bidding. There is pre-sale absentee bidding which takes place via the website, then there is live in-room bidding. The auctioneer will go through each lot in order to allow live bidders the opportunity to secure their desired items. Once the hammer has fallen, no further bids would be accepted on any lot in question.
How do Timed Online Auctions work?
Art at Home & Collectable auctions are Timed Online auctions, with bidding taking place online only.
Bidding at auction is easy and straightforward, simply find the lots you are interested in and place your bids, we will notify you if someone outbids you and any last minute bids trigger a bid extension which means you will always have a chance to secure your items.
Our online auctions run for a fixed seven-day period, during which you may place bids at any time. At the close of the auction, the highest bidder secures the lot.
Bidding closes from 6:00pm on the designated day, with each lot closing in ten-second intervals. Please note that our auctions feature extended bidding: if a bid is submitted within the final five minutes, the lot will remain open for an additional ten minutes, allowing all interested parties the opportunity to respond.
Absentee bidding is also available online. By placing a maximum bid in advance, the system will automatically bid on your behalf at the lowest possible increments up to your stated limit. You will be notified by email should another bidder exceed your maximum.
At the conclusion of the auction, lots on which you have bid will be marked as ‘Won’, ‘Lost’, or ‘Ended’. Lots marked ‘Ended’ indicate that bidding did not meet the reserve price. In such cases, one of our specialists will be in touch the following day to discuss next steps.
Can I view auctions in person?
All auction categories have a week long viewing and are hung and displayed in our Parnell auction rooms. Please check viewing times on individual auction pages.
If you are out of Auckland, or unable to view in person, we offer condition reports. Please contact one of our specialists who can provide this for you. Please note condition report requests close 3:00pm the day of the auction.
We strongly advise viewing artworks in person and/or requesting a condition report before bidding.
What is your Buyers Premium?
Our Buyers Premium is 18.5% (21.27% inclusive of GST) of the hammer price. This is added to all auction purchases.
What happens after the Auction ?
After an auction has finished, invoices will be sent out via email to all buyers. If you don’t receive an email but think that you should have, it’s a good idea to check your junk or spam folders, if you find your invoice there, be sure to mark International Art Centre as a safe sender to ensure they reach your inbox next time.
Please note that International Art Centre charges the successful bidder a Buyer’s Premium on the hammer price of each lot sold. The Buyer’s Premium is payable by the buyer as part of the total purchase price, and is detailed on the invoice.
How can I pay for my acquisitions?
Following the auction, you will receive an invoice the following day with our bank details, alongside delivery and/or collection options.
Payment options:
1. Bank Transfer
2. Eftpos (Please note there is a 2% credit card and PayWave surcharge)
3. Credit Card (Visa & Mastercard)
Please get in contact if you need assistance with any other forms of payment. Cheques are no longer accepted by IAC.
How do I arrange for delivery out of Auckland & Internationally?
We frequently arrange and provide freight, packing and shipping solutions for around the country and internationally.
Get in contact with us to discuss options best suited to your artwork/s.
Can I collect my artworks from International Art Centre?
Items are typically due for collection within 24 hours of the sale ending or as otherwise stated in the sale comments or in the body of the email containing your invoice. Due to the number of sales we hold and the limited space we have, storage is not an option at International Art Centre, but clients are welcome to engage a third party to provide this service should they wish.
Each successful bidder is issued a unique paddle number pertaining to the items purchased in each sale. That paddle number acts as authority to collect the associated lots so if you want someone to collect on your behalf, make sure they have the paddle number when they attend to collect.
Business Hours: Our Parnell auction rooms are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. Please note that the auction division is closed on weekends and public holidays. If you wish to collect works from our Gallery over the weekend, please arrange collection in advance.
