Why should I register for a Swann account?
Register for an account on our site to place bids, bookmark lots you are interested in, sign up for keyword alerts, and more.
When can I pick up and pay for my purchase?
Purchases cannot be claimed until after the auction, and invoices are generated approximately an hour after the sale has concluded. If you are not present, a preliminary invoice will be sent to you via e-mail, and a final invoice will be mailed to you within a week of the sale date.
How much is the buyer’s premium?
Our buyer’s premium and any applicable sales tax and shipping costs, as outlined in Terms and Conditions of Sale, are added to the hammer price of each lot sold. For any item purchased directly through Swann, the buyer’s premium is 25% of the hammer price, up to and including $100,000; 20% of the hammer price above $100,000 up to and including $1,000,000; 12% of the hammer price after $1,000,000.
An additional buyer’s premium is charged when purchasing items through a third-party service like Invaluable.
What is the minimum price for a lot?
The minimum acceptable bid at Swann is half the low estimate. We refer to this as the house reserve.
What is involved in bidding by telephone?
Specify the lots you wish to bid on and provide a phone number where a Swann employee can reach you during the auction. The staff member will call you about five lots before your first lot. When your lot comes up, the Swann representative will tell you the opening bid and subsequent competitive bids; you will indicate when you wish to bid, and the staff member will signal your bids to the auctioneer.
Hammer Price vs. Price Realized
The hammer price is the winning bid. The price realized is the hammer price, plus the buyer’s premium.
How are estimates determined?
The estimate is a value range based on prices fetched at auction by similar items, dealer’s prices, and the specialist’s knowledge of the current market.
