How to Run an Online Antiques Auction
Furniture, ceramics, silver, clocks and collectibles all sell online when the catalogue does the job the viewing day used to do. This guide is for dealers, salerooms and collectors running a timed online antiques sale.
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Catalogue each piece properly
A good catalogue entry answers the questions a buyer would ask in the room: what it is, when and where it was made, by whom if known, its materials and dimensions. Say what you know and how you know it; “in the manner of” and “attributed to” exist for a reason. Record marks, signatures and hallmarks exactly.
Describe condition honestly
Restoration, repairs, chips, missing parts, replaced movements and later additions all belong in the description. An honest condition report is what prevents a dispute and a return after the sale — and buyers bid more confidently on a seller who tells them the faults.
Photograph the details
- The whole piece against a plain background, then the details: marks, hallmarks, signatures, joints, the underside and any damage.
- Use daylight or neutral light so colours are true.
- Include something for scale on smaller items, or state the dimensions clearly.
Check provenance and restricted materials
Know where each piece came from and that the seller has the right to sell it. Items made from, or containing, protected materials — ivory, tortoiseshell, rhino horn, some tropical hardwoods — may need documentation or may not be sold at all, and the rules have tightened in several countries. Check the rules where you and your buyers are before listing.
Set estimates, reserves and increments
Publish an estimate range so buyers know where you expect the lot to sell, and set a reserve on pieces with a clear value; in many salerooms the reserve sits at or below the low estimate. Use increments that fit the price, and close lots a minute or two apart with soft close, so late bids extend the clock rather than taking the lot in the final second. Let regular buyers leave commission bids in advance, exactly as they would in the room.
Terms, premium and payment
State your buyer’s premium, how tax applies, the payment deadline and your returns policy before the sale opens, in the terms bidders accept when they register. Take payment before anything is released or shipped.
Pack and ship with care
Decide in advance whether you ship, offer collection or use a third-party packer, and put the choice and any delivery charge on each lot. Fragile and valuable pieces need proper packing and insurance; say who arranges it and who bears the risk in transit.
Frequently asked questions
What should an antiques auction listing include?
What the piece is, its date and origin, the maker if known, materials, dimensions, marks and hallmarks, an honest condition report, provenance where known, an estimate, and clear photographs of the details and any damage.
What is a commission bid?
A maximum bid left in advance by a buyer who cannot attend. The auctioneer, or the auction site, bids on their behalf up to that amount and no higher.
Can I sell antiques that contain ivory?
Often not, or only with documentation — several countries have tightened their rules on ivory and other protected materials. Check the law where you and your buyers are before listing any such item.
Should antiques have a reserve?
Pieces with a clear value usually carry one, often at or below the low estimate. Lower-value lots frequently sell without a reserve, which attracts more bidders.