Terms & Conditions

Buyer's Information

Condition Reports

We are happy to provide Condition Reports to prospective buyers, but would welcome your request as soon as possible, preferably at least 48 hours before the Day of Sale. We cannot guarantee a reply to any requests made within 48 hours of the start of the auction. The absence of a Condition Report from a lot does not mean that the lot is in perfect condition. A Condition Report is an honest expression of our opinion, not a statement of fact and is provided as a service to the seller. All lots are available for public view ahead of an auction, and we encourage prospective buyers to inspect an item in person where possible. Our Condition Reports are not prepared by professional conservators, restorers or engineers, and are prepared with the naked eye unless otherwise stated. Works are not examined out of the frame, unless specifically stated. We accept no liability for the opinions expressed in any Condition Report.

The Auction House North Shields Ltd Auctioneers do not cover damage to gilded wood or plaster picture frames, or to picture frame glass whilst the item is in our possession.

Caveat Emptor

The principle of caveat emptor applies to the sale of all goods sold at auction by us. Furthermore, we have no control over the condition of any item offered for sale.

Additional Images

Requests for additional images of items in the sale can be made up to 48 hours before the Day of Sale.

Telephone Bidding

Requests for telephone bidding must be registered at least one hour before the close of the View Day. We will not accept requests on the Day of Sale. Telephone Lines are booked on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to a minimum lot value of £40 for all sales.

Absentee Bidding

Whilst reasonable endeavours will be made to execute absentee bidding up to the Day of Sale, The Auction House North Shields Ltd will not be liable for any default or neglect in connection with this service. All such arrangements, therefore, are made entirely at the Prospective Buyer’s risk.

VAT

It is currently not applicable; once applicable will be charged at the current flat rate

AML Due Diligence

We conduct appropriate Due Diligence checks to comply with current Anti Money Laundering regulations for any buyer exceeding the threshold of £1,000. We reserve the right to withhold the purchased lots until such checks have been completed.

Agency

We act as agents for the Seller, whose details remain confidential. If you buy at auction, your contract is with the Seller, not us.

Export/CITES Regulations/Ivory Act 2018

CITES-restricted items and Ivory Exempt items will be accompanied by a current CITES Article 10 licence/Ivory Exemption Declaration where applicable, and the licence/exemption declaration number will be displayed within the original catalogue description (required by UK law). Both CITES Article 10 licences and Ivory Exemption Declarations are non-transferable, and buyers must apply for a new Article 10 licence/Ivory Exemption Declaration in their name if they wish to sell to a third party.

It is the sole responsibility of the buyer and/or contracted shipping agent to have in place the correct CITES re-export and import licences into the buyer’s chosen country before shipping can be undertaken.

CITES regulations are given on www.ukcites.gov.uk or may be obtained from:

The Animal and Plant Health Agency
Centre for International Trade
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol BL1 5AH
wildlife.licensing@apha.gsi.gov.uk
0117 372 3700

Those species that are covered by the US Endangered Species Act (USESA) or The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA): potential US bidders should check with USF&W (US Fish and Wildlife Services) for trade/possession restrictions in the US prior to bidding.

Picture Descriptions

The forename(s) (or asterisks where not known) and surname of the artist indicate, in our opinion, a work by the artist named.

The initials of the forename(s) and the surname of the artist indicate, in our opinion, a work of the period of the artist which may be wholly or in part his work.

The following terms apply in our determination of a picture description:

(a) “Attributed to” - is, in our opinion, probably a work by the artist.
(b) “Studio of” - is, in our opinion, a work from the studio of the artist which may or may not have been executed under his direction.
(c) “Circle of” - is in our opinion a work of the period of the artist executed under his immediate influence.
(d) “Follower of” - is, in our opinion, a work by a painter working in the artist’s style, contemporary or nearly contemporary, but not necessarily his pupil.
(e) “Manner of” - is, in our opinion, a work in a style related to that of the artist, but of a later date.
(f) “School accompanied by the name of a place or country and a date” - means that, in our opinion, the picture was executed at that time and in that location; e.g. Flemish School, 17th century.
(g) “After” - an artist is, in our opinion, a copy of any date after a work by that artist.
(h) “Signed and/or dated and/or inscribed means that in our opinion the signature and/or date and/or inscription” - are from the hand of the artist.
(i) “Bears signature and/or dated and or inscription means that in our opinion the artist’s name and/or date and/or inscription” - have been added by another hand.
(j) All references to signature, inscriptions and dates refer to the present state of the work.
(k) Dimensions are given as height before width and do not include the frame.
(l) Pictures are framed unless otherwise stated.

Droit de Suite/ Artists’ Resale Rights

All items in this catalogue that are marked with “✓” are potentially qualifying items, and the royalty charge (set out below) will apply if the Hammer Price is more than £1,000. The royalty charge will be added to purchase invoices and must be paid before items can be cleared. All royalty charges are paid to either the Design and Artists Copyright Society (“DACS”) or the Artists’ Collecting Society (“ACS”) by the auctioneers, and no handling costs or additional fees concerning these charges will be retained by the auctioneer.

From 14 February 2006 United Kingdom art market professionals (which includes auctioneers) are required to collect a royalty payment for all works of art that have been produced by living artists, and those who have died within the last 70 years. This payment is calculated on qualifying works of art which are sold for a Hammer Price more £1,000. 

The royalty charge for qualifying items which achieve a Hammer Price of more than £1,000 is as follows (note subject to change, please refer to DACS website before purchase):

• Up to £50,000 – 4%
• £50,000.01 to £200,000 – 3%
• £200,000.01 to £350,000 – 1%
• £350,000.01 to £500,000 – 0.5%
• Exceeding £500,000 – 0.25%

For further information, please visit www.dacs.org.uk or www.artistscollectingsociety.org. There is no VAT payable on this royalty charge.