Buying at our Auction 

Catalogue

Our catalogue is available for viewing on-line two weeks before the date of each sale, or you can subscribe to the published catalogue or purchase it at our offices. An email can be sent to you notifying you of the on-line catalogue's availability, if you would like this service please email us at artauctions@menziesartbrands.com. Please note that a due to internet limitations, the on-line images will not accurately represent the colours and detail of artworks illustrated. We always recommend that you make time to view the artworks prior to the Auction at our viewings.

Viewings

Pre-sale viewings for all of our auctions are open to the public and may be attended at no charge. All property to be auctioned is usually on view for several days prior to the sale. You are encouraged to examine each lot thoroughly and to request condition reports. Menzies Art Brands specialists are available to give advice at all viewings or by appointment.

Condition Reports

If you would like additional information on a particular lot or are unable to attend the viewing, Deutscher~Menzies or Lawson~Menzies will be pleased to provide on request a condition report. Please submit your request no later than 48 hours prior to auction. Menzies Art Brands Condition Reports are statements of professional opinion and should not be relied on as definitive fact.

We remind prospective buyers that descriptions of property are not warranties and that each lot is sold "as is". Neither Menzies Art Brands or the vendor makes any express or implied warranty or representation as to the condition of any lot offered for sale, and no statement made at any time, whether oral or written, shall constitute such a warranty or representation.

Estimated Prices

Catalogue entries include descriptive information for every lot, as well as a price range, which reflects the opinion of our specialists as to the price expected for the lot at auction. These are based upon prices recently paid at auction for comparable works and take into account condition, rarity, quality and provenance (history of ownership).

Estimates are prepared well in advance of the sale and are subject to revision; they do not include the buyer's premium.

Buyer's Premium

Buyers are reminded that the purchase price will be the sum of the final bid price plus the buyer's premium, which is 20% of the final bid price. G.S.T. of 10% will be charged on the buyer's premium.

Reserves

The reserve is the minimum price the vendor is willing to accept and below which a lot will not be sold. This amount is confidential and will not exceed the low pre-sale estimate. Property offered for sale without a reserve is identified by the square shaped symbol next to the lot number.

1. GST
   
   Deutscher~Menzies sells property to be auctioned on a G.S.T. exclusive basis. When the symbol appears under the estimate, this indicates that the lot has been consigned by a G.S.T. registered entity, and G.S.T. (Goods and Services Tax) at 10% is payable on the hammer price in addition to the buyer's premium. G.S.T. at 10% is always payable on the buyer's premium.

Menzies Art Brands Interest in Property Consigned for Sale

Menzies Art Brands generally offers property consigned by others for sale at public auction. Occasionally lots are offered which have in the course of the sale process become the property of Menzies Art Brands. Menzies Art Brands also occasionally offers for sale works owned in whole or part by Menzies Art Brands. In either case the triangular symbol will be displayed next to the lot number.

In some cases Menzies Art Brands has guaranteed a minimum price to the vendor of the property or made an advance to the vendor which is secured solely by the consigned property. Such lots are identified by the circular symbol next to the lot number and are sold subject to a reserve.

Registration

If you are planning to bid at auction you will need to register with us. When the catalogue for each forthcoming Auction goes online, a Pre-Registration form will be available as well for you to download from this website. Pre-Registration forms need to be completed, signed and returned to our office by fax, mail or in person 24 hours prior to the start of the auction. Pre-registration will also save you time on the day of sale. If you are attending the sale in person, please arrive 20 or 30 minutes before the sale to complete bidder registration and to receive a bidding number to identify you if you are a successful bidder. If you are a new client, or if you have not made a recent purchase with Deutscher~Menzies/Lawson~Menzies, you may be asked to supply a bank reference when you register. To avoid any delay in the release of your purchases, you may wish to pre-arrange cheque or credit approval. If so, please contact our Accounts Department at Deutscher~Menzies on +61 3 9822 1911.

Seat Reservations

Due to demand for seats at our Auctions, we advise you to pre-book seats before the day of the sale if you will be attending. Seats will not be reserved after the start of the Auction. Call our reception on +61 3 9822 1911 to arrange seats.

The Auction

All auctions are open to the public, free of charge. Please familiarize yourself in advance with the venue(s), times, parking and transport arrangements to ensure you do not miss your lot. Our Auctions generally progress at around 70 Lots an hour, but this is only an approximate guide.

Bidding

Property is auctioned in consecutive numerical order. The lot being offered is usually shown at the front of the saleroom. The auctioneer will accept bids from those present in the saleroom or absentee bidders participating by telephone or by absentee bid left with Deutscher~Menzies or Lawson~Menzies in advance of the auction. The auctioneer may also execute bids on behalf of the vendor to protect the reserve, either by placing consecutive bids up to the amount of the reserve or by entering bids in response to saleroom, telephone or absentee bids. Under no circumstances will the auctioneer place any bid on behalf of the vendor at or above the reserve. Bidding increments are G.S.T. exclusive.

Bidding Increments

Bidding generally opens below the estimate and advances in the following increments:

Occasionally the auctioneer may vary the increments during the course of the auction at his or her discretion.

Absentee or Commission Bids

If you cannot attend the auction, you may bid in other ways. The most common is the absentee bid. Absentee bids are written instructions from you directing Deutscher~Menzies or Lawson~Menzies to bid for you on one or more lots up to a maximum amount you specify for each lot. Menzies Art Brands staff will execute your absentee bid at the lowest possible price taking into account the reserve price and other bids. There is no charge for this service. If identical bids are left by two or more parties, the first bid received by Menzies Art Brands will take preference. The auctioneer may execute bids for absentee bidders directly from the rostrum, clearly identifying these as absentee or commission bids. Absentee bid forms can be downloaded from this website when the current catalogue is online.

Telephone bids

Deutscher~Menzies or Lawson~Menzies will also execute your bids if you cannot come to the auction and wish to participate by telephone. Arrangements should be confirmed by 1pm on the day of the sale with our bid department. Menzies Art Brands staff will execute telephone bids from designated areas in the saleroom. This service is at the telephone bidder's risk, and is free of charge. You are invited to leave a cover bid, which Menzies Art Brands staff will execute on your behalf on in the event that we are unable to contact you on the telephone. Telephone bid forms can be downloaded from this website when the current catalogue is online.

Successful bids

The fall of the auctioneer's hammer indicates the final bid. Menzies Art Brands will record the bidder number of the buyer. If your saleroom or absentee bid is successful, you will be notified immediately after the sale by mailed invoice.

Unsold lots

If a lot does not reach the reserve, it is bought-in. In other words, it remains unsold and is returned to the consignor usually after a week in case there are any post sale offers. When the auctioneer hammers down a lot that fails to sell, he/she will not announce a bidder's number.

Payment

Under normal circumstances you are expected to pay for your purchases within 7 (seven) days of the sale and to remove the property you have bought. Payment can be made by bank cheque, cash, eftpos or telegraphic transfer. Payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Diners) will incur a surcharge, depending on what the card issuer is charging Menzies Art Brands - please call our office for the applicable rate. If payment is made by personal cheque property will not be released until funds have been cleared.

Payment by telegraphic transfer should be made to: 
Menzies Art Brands Vendor Trust A/C

A.N.Z. Banking Group Ltd.
353 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne,
Victoria 3000
B.S.B. No. 013 040
Account No. 8369 13715.

Please use your bidder name and number as your reference for direct payments.

Shipping

After payment has been made in full, Deutscher~Menzies and Lawson~Menzies may, as a service to buyers, arrange to have the property packed, insured and shipped at your request and expense. We use professional art handling companies or shippers for this purpose.

We recommend that you request an estimate for any large items or property of high value requiring specialised professional packers.

For your convenience, we have now provided a shipping instruction form online which you can download, print out and fax or mail to Deutscher~Menzies. 

Export Licensing Regulations

The export of any item sold at Auction from Australia or its import into another country may require both export or import licenses. It is the buyer's responsibility to inform themselves with respect to those licenses and where necessary, to obtain the appropriate licenses. Those licenses may be required under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 or the Wildlife Protection (Regulations of Exports and Imports) Act 1982.

The Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 prescribes objects of Cultural Heritage significance that require either an export certificate or a permit. There may also be other legislation that restricts or prohibits the export of a lot outside a State or Territory or the Commonwealth of Australia. Prescribed objects are disclosed in the National Cultural Heritage Control list. Enquiries should be made of the Movable Cultural Heritage Department

The Wildlife Protection (Regulations of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 requires a specific license to move items made of or incorporating animal material such as ivory, whalebone, tortoise shell, skins, etc irrespective of age or value. The restrictions affect movement from State to State and/or Territory and overseas. The Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service are responsible for these permits.

Deutscher~Menzies and Lawson~Menzies recommends that Buyers make appropriate enquiries of the relevant authorities. Buyers will be bound to complete a purchase notwithstanding the inability to obtain any relevant license.

Collection

Buyers can pay and collect property the following day from Deutscher~Menzies and Lawson~Menzies after 12.00 noon, provided payment is made by bank cheque, cash, eftpos, credit card or telegraphic transfer. If payment is made by personal cheque property will not be released until funds have been cleared.

Due to space constraints Menzies Art Brands require that purchases and unsold property be collected within 7 (seven) days. If the goods remain after 7 (seven) days Menzies Art Brands reserve the right to cause the property to be stored at the expense of the owner.

Prices Realised

Price lists are sent automatically to catalogue subscribers shortly after each sale and are also available
on request. Prices realised are also published on our web site click here.

Conditions of Sale

If you wish to bid in a sale, we encourage you to read our full Terms and Conditions on this web site and in the rear of our Auction Catalogue.