At Lyon & Turnbull we want to make buying at auction, either in the saleroom or online, as easy and enjoyable as possible. Our specialists and client services teams are available across a wide range of locations including Edinburgh, Glasgow and London so whatever your interest or query we can always help.
We are proud to offer regular specialist auctions throughout the year; from jewellery to fine art, Scottish paintings to rare books. Be amongst the first to hear of forthcoming sales by registering with us or finding out more below.
If you cannot make our sale day, our trusted Lyon & Turnbull auction team can bid on your behalf subject to your requirements by completing a simple form.
Our easy-to-use, secure platform is designed to bring all the excitement of an in-person sale to you at home or on the move. It’s easy to register with us online, you can watch the auction as it happens and place bids from the comfort of your desktop or mobile device.
Follow our checklist below to set up a free account and start bidding online with Lyon & Turnbull. You can set up lot reminders, create a wishlist and enjoy the auction in real time as bids are made and lots are won.
Register your interest and set sale reminders for upcoming auctions
Bid easily and quickly in our streamlined platform: L&T Live
Make an offer on past lots that have not met their estimate
Create a bespoke wishlist of lots you are interested in
Review your current and past bids in one place
Personalise your communications preferences
Enjoy a live stream of the auction on sale day
Easily manage your payments & invoices
Set up lot alerts for your favourite pieces
Update your contact information
Our Edinburgh sales are held in our historic saleroom at 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh; just minutes from the city centre, and accessible by bus or taxi with parking nearby. We also offer regular sales in central, prestigious London venues. Bidding at either location in person offers you a chance to meet our specialist auction team and be part of the action.
Buying at auction is simple. Raise your paddle when there is a particular lot you are interested in and wait for the auctioneer to acknowledge you. The auctioneer will take competing bids from people in the room, from our team of phone clerks or online, until a final price is "won" indicated by the gavel being hit and the acutioneer announcing the hammer price . If you are the final bidder, you must give your paddle number to the auctioneer and the team will then contact you to discuss the final price of the lot, which will include an additional percentage.
If you would like to bid by telephone, please contact our team prior to the auction to provide details of the lots you are interested in and your contact information.
On auction day, your designated clerk will call you just before your lot(s) come up. They will be able to share an update of the auction so far, any interesting notes about the lots you are interested in and will relay the events in the room to you, bidding on your behalf when instructed to do so. This means that no matter where you are in the world, you still have chance to feel part of auction day.
Should you wish to bid in any forthcoming auctions by telephone, email info@lyonandturnbull.com or call us on 0131 557 8844. Once our team have processed your bid request you will receive an email confirmation. Please note that all absentee and telephone bid requests must be received at least an hour before the auction.
No matter where you are in the world, once you have an Lyon & Turnbull account you can allow us to bid on your behalf.
Should you wish us to bid on your behalf, simply place a bid online by clicking "leave a bid" on your chosen lot(s); email us at info@lyonandturnbull.com; or complete an absentee bid form and hand it to a member of staff, The amount you enter on the form should be your maximum limit and we will bid up to that limit for you. Remember you may end up paying less than your limit depending on bidding that day.
Please note: our bid department will aways confirm receipt of an absentee bid form and may ask for further details. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for purchasing with Lyon & Turnbull.
Once you have successfully bid on a lot with us, your lot information will be available to view in your online account and a copy sent to your email address. In order to make the process as easy as possible for you, we have several ways to pay including:
All items must be paid for before they can be collected and payment must be given by at least seven days post auction.
Collecting your purchase
Our saleroom teams are always on-hand to help with collections and shipping for purchased lots. Discover the various options available for you including our pre-sale shipping estimate service for UK purchases, in partnership in Mail Boxes Etc Edinburgh & Mayfair, and the variety of alternative shippers available for competitive quotes, largers items, international shipments, etc.
Our auction calendar is availble to view online. Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by signing up to the Lyon & Turnbull newsletter.
You can register to bid in many ways and at any time before the auction; however we suggest you allow plenty of time to register to secure your bids. The few hours prior to an auction are often very busy and clients will be registered on a first-come-first-served basis. As a new customer, you can register online, in person, by phone or mail. Please note: first time bidders will be asked for two forms of ID in order to increase your bid amount level:
1. Government issued photo ID (passport/ driving licence)
2. Proof of address (utility bill/ bank statement)
You may present these documents in person at our saleroom or at one of our office locations or, if registering for a telephone or absentee bid, fax (0131 557 8668) or email copies to us at info@lyonandturnbull.com
Prior to placing bids please be sure to read our Conditions of Sale for Buyers. By submitting a bid (in any form) you are agreeing to these Conditions of Sale.
There are number of ways to pay to make it as easy as possible for you. We accept bank transfer, credit or debit card and, on some occasions, cash.
Remember your final invoice will include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium of 26% of the hammer price of each lot up to and including £20,000 / 25% from £20,001 up to and including £500,000 / 20% from £500,001 and thereafter, plus VAT on the buyer's premium. If there is a dagger (†), double-dagger (‡), omega [Ω] or section mark (§) next to your lot number in the catalogue, your lot will be subject to additional VAT or Droit de Suite charges. See our Conditions of Sale for further details, or the auction information at the start of the printed or online catalogues.
All items must be paid for before they can be collected.
Our saleroom teams are always on-hand to help with collections and shipping for purchased lots. Visit our Collections & Shipping page for more info or alternatively contact a local branch for more information or to book an appointment to collect any lot you have won.
As you may be aware, several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, such as rhino horn, ivory, coral and tortoiseshell. If you are interested in bidding on a lot containing these materials and you wish to export, please make sure you are familiar with all relevant customs regulations prior to bidding. It is the buyer’s sole responsibility to obtain any relevant export or import licence.
Please be aware that lots marked with the symbol Y may be subject to CITES regulations when exporting outside of Great Britain. For more information please visit www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites/
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