Definitions

1. “The Auctioneers” means George Kidner Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd.
“ The Auctioneer” means the representative of George Kidner Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd conducting the Sale;
“ The hammer price” means the price at which any lot is knocked down to a buyer;
“ Deliberate forgery” means an imitation made with the intention to deceive as to authorship, origin, age or source, which has a value materially less than if it had been in accordance with the description in the catalogue.

The Auction

2. The highest bidder shall be the buyer. In the event of any dispute, the Auctioneer’s decision shall be final.
3. The Auctioneer shall have absolute discretion to withdraw, alter or combine with any other lot all lots offered for sale.
4. All lots are offered subject to any reserve prices imposed by the vendor.
5. Whilst every care is taken in the preparation of catalogues, the Auctioneers accept no responsibility for any inaccuracies contained therein.
6. Lots shall be held to be at the buyer’s risk from the fall of the hammer.
7. Legal title shall not pass to the buyer until the purchase price together with the premium has been paid in full.

Conditions concerning Buyers

8. A buyer’s premium of 17.5% (+VAT) will be added to the hammer price of all lots sold.
9. Buyers will be required to supply to the Auctioneers their names and addresses and, if required, a deposit immediately after the fall of the hammer.
10. Commission bids will be executed free of charge but must reach the Auctioneers at least one hour before the beginning of the Sale. Telephone commission bids must be confirmed in writing.
11. The buyer shall not rely purely upon the catalogue description but shall satisfy himself or herself as to the physical condition and description of each lot.
12. No lot shall be removed until the purchaser has paid in full for it and for any other lots purchased. All purchasers must be removed at the buyer’s risk and expense within two working days following the sale. A charge of £2.00 (+VAT) per lot per day will be made for purchases not removed within this period.
13. Should the purchaser fail to pay for and remove any lot within seven days following the sale, the Auctioneers shall have the right to re-sell the lot at auction or by private treaty without giving notice to the buyer. Any liability to the buyer shall be limited to the hammer price originally paid.
14. Interest calculated at 2% above the Base rate prevailing at Barclays Plc shall be payable as well as the purchase price on any accounts not settled within two working days following the sale.
15. Third party cheques will not be accepted in payment.
16. By making a bid, prospective purchasers acknowledge acceptance of these Conditions.

Conditions concerning Vendors

17. Goods delivered to the Auctioneers shall be deemed to be for sale by auction unless contrary instructions are given in writing at the time or in advance.
18. All goods will be insured by the Auctioneers whilst in their custody or on their premises unless written evidence of alternative cover is received. The value of the cover shall be the gross selling price of the goods or, in the case of unsold lots withdrawn before sale, the auction value as estimated by the Auctioneers. The premium for insurance cover shall be £1.00 (+VAT) per £100. The minimum charge will be £1.00 (+VAT) per lot.
19. The Auctioneers shall not be responsible for accidental damage or loss unless directly caused by the negligence of their staff.
20. The vendor authorises the Auctioneers to deduct commission and any other proper expenses from the hammer price. He/she also accepts the Auctioneers’ right to retain any premium paid by the purchaser.
21. The Auctioneers shall have the right to photograph and illustrate any lot consigned for sale and to use such photographs or digital images at their discretion. The vendor accepts, without further consultation, that a charge of up to £50 (+VAT) per illustrated lot may be made towards the recovery of photographic expenses. This includes images posted to the Auctioneer's website or used for other promotional purposes.
22. All lots will be sold at the Auctioneer’s discretion unless written instructions to the contrary are received. Any reserve figure placed upon a lot shall be confidential between the vendor and the Auctioneers. In the event of a lot failing to reach its reserve, the Auctioneers shall be entitled to a commission of 5% (+VAT) of the reserve price, unless alternative charges have been previously agreed.
23. A withdrawal fee of 10% (+VAT) of the lower estimate (or reserve price, if there is one) shall be payable to the Auctioneers for any lot withdrawn after it has been catalogued but before the sale.
24. The vendor indemnifies the Auctioneers against any claim relating to goods sold on his/her behalf.
25. A vendor who enters for sale goods which are assets of a VAT registered business must disclose this fact to the Auctioneers. He/she must also provide his/her registered number and indicate whether or not he/she intends to operate the Margin Scheme for Antiques and Works of Art.
26. The Auctioneers act as agents only and therefore shall not be accountable to the vendor for any sum until payment has been received from the buyer.

Forgeries

27. Should any lot prove to be a deliberate forgery, the Auctioneers, upon receipt of written notice of this fact within one year of the sale, shall rescind the sale or repurchase the lot for an amount equal to the hammer price plus premium (inclusive of VAT) provided that:

(a) the lot is returned in the same condition as at the time of the sale;
(b) written proof of the forgery accompanies the lot and the buyer demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the Auctioneers
that in light of the catalogue description the lot is a deliberate forgery.
(c) the general opinion of scholars and experts at the time of the sale would have indicated that the lot was a deliberate forgery;
or
(d) scientific processes in existence at the time of the sale would have established that the lot was a deliberate forgery. The benefit of this Condition is not negotiable

Artist’s Resale Right Regulations 2006

28. An amount equal to the resale royalty payable under the Artist’s Resale Right Regulations 2006 will be collected from the buyer of qualifying works of art. This amount will be passed to the relevant collecting society. VAT is not payable on resale royalties.
Online Bidding
29. In the case of certain selected auctions, George kidner Auctioneers & Valuers offer an online bidding service via the-saleroom.com for bidders who cannot attend the sale.
In completing the bidder registration at www.the-saleroom.com and providing your credit card details you:
a) authorise George Kidner Auctioneers & Valuers, if they so wish, to charge the credit card given in part or full payment, including all fee, for items successfully purchased in the auction via the-saleroom.com, and
b) confirm that you are authorised to provide these credit card details to George Kidner Auctioneers & Valuers through www.the-saleroom.com

Please note that any lots purchased via the-saleroom.com live auction service will be subject to an additional charge of 3% + VAT (at the current rate) on the hammer price.