Selling at Auction

Looking to discover more about the value of your art or object and how to sell it? Requesting an auction estimate is free and easy, just follow the steps below to get in-touch with our specialist team online, by telephone or in person.

We hold approximately 35 auctions per annum across the UK and live online, spanning many specialist categories from jewellery and watches to fine furniture; traditional British and European art to modern & contemporary stars; European decorative arts and design to fine Asian art from China and Japan.

Request an Free Estimate in Three Easy Steps

Step 1 : Photography

Take sharp, clear colour photographs of the item, preferably in natural light—at least one photograph of the overall object, and as many additional photographs as necessary to show important details such as signatures and maker’s marks. You also should take photos to clearly show the extent of any repairs, damage or wear as this is likely to affect the overall value.

TIP: Don’t try to clean or polish the item too much! A light dusting is plenty - too much cleaning and polishing can reduce the value of many kinds of antique.

Step 2: Description

Prepare a short description of the item, and please include as much information about the piece as possible, including artist or maker’s name, title of the work, the medium (oil paints on canvas, for example) and any addiitonal documentation you think might be of interest (such as gemmology certificates). If the item has a background story, that can be very helpful and interesting too.

TIP: Any information you have about prior owners or past use of an object can make a huge difference to the value, as can any history of being exhibited at a gallery or museum.

Step 3: Request a Free Auction Estimate

Our online form will request your name and contact information. You will be able to add all of the object details you have collected and upload all of the images you have taken. Once you have finished, click ‘submit’ and our one of our specialist team will be in touch.

Get a Free Auction Estimate Now

TIP: If you have several items, simply complete the process here for what you think might be your most valuable item and mention that you have more.

Speak to the Specialists

Our specialists are available to offer current market advice and valuation appointments nationwide either in-person, via telephone, email or video-call.

To meet our specialist team take a look at our Specialist Directory here, alternatively for general enquires contact your nearest location and our team will be happy to help.

Meet the Specialists

Your Nearest Location

EDINBURGH

0131 557 8844 | info@lyonandturnbull.com

33 BROUGHTON PLACE, EDINBURGH, EH1 3RR

GLASGOW

0141 333 1992 | glasgow@lyonandturnbull.com

182 BATH STREET, GLASGOW, G2 4HG

LONDON

0207 930 9115 | london@lyonandturnbull.com

22 CONNAUGHT STREET, LONDON, W2 2AF

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an auction estimate a final valuation?

No, an auction estimate is not a final valuation. Please note that all auction estimates are subject to physical examination of the item as well as changes in the art market. Estimates are not formal documents for insurance, taxes or estate valuations and cannot be used as such. Our auction estimates are offered free of charge and without any obligation.

Which auction is best to sell my item?

With a great number and range of specialist auctions throughout the season our specialists will advise you on the best auction to place your item in in order to attract the most interest and achieve the best result possible for you. If you would like to speak to a specialist to ensure now is a good time to sell, please call or email one of our specialists.

Meet the Specialists

What are the stages of consignment when selling an item at auction?

Customer Receipts

Upon deciding to consign a lot to our sale you will receive a full customer receipt from us – this receipt will outline your details, the details of the items you wish to consign (including sale dates, brief description, estimates and any reserves discussed) and the commission/ charges involved. You then review this receipt and sign, retaining a copy for your records along with our Conditions of Sale.

You items will now be assigned a personal consignment/ receipt number which must be quoted in call communication concerning your items. It is important that you retain a copy of this customer receipt, and the associated Conditions of Sale for your reference - it is a record of your instruction to us to sell and acts as a contract with Lyon & Turnbull.
Reserves

When appropriate, a reserve (a price below which an item will not be sold) may be placed upon individual items. Reserves cannot exceed low estimate and sadly we cannot apply a reserve to an item valued at less than £500. Your specialist will advise you on deciding a reserve - in our experience a high reserve can put some bidders off, whereas a low reserve encourages more bidders to participate, generating higher prices.

What does it cost to sell an item at auction?

Seller’s Commission

Please contact the department for details.
Loss & Warranty

All sold lots will be subject to a 1.5% loss & warranty fee.
Item Photography & Online Listing

Each sold lot will be subject to a £40 photography and listing charge. This allows for your lot to be promoted not only on our own website but also through a number of other international auction platforms such as The-Saleroom.com, Invaluable.com and Live Auctioneers.
Additional Print Catalogue Photography

For lots illustrated in our printed catalogues there may be an additional catalogue photography fee charged (for example £50 for half page, £100 for full page). Specialists will be happy to discuss this further at initial consignment.
VAT

VAT, at the current rate, is payable on all commissions and charges.
Transportation

We need to have your property on our premises far enough in advance of the sale to catalogue, photograph and promote it properly - usually at least six weeks prior to the sale date. We are happy to assist with transportation arrangements. Any charges for transportation will be removed from your initial settlement, so please take the opportunity to discuss transport arrangements when consigning your goods to ensure you are fully aware of any costs.
Unsold fees

We do not charge you anything on lots that we do not manage to sell. However, if unsold items remain uncollected for an inappropriate period of time after an auction then additional storage fees may be applied (normally £5 per day).

What happens before an auction?

Prior to any sale you will receive a pre-sale notification (via email or post) indicating which lots will be offered in the forthcoming auction. This notification will outline the auction date, item description, lot number, estimate and any agreed reserves. It will be sent along with a copy of the illustrated online catalogue for you to browse.

What happens after an auction?

Results of Sale

Shortly after an auction you will receive a Results of Sale notification by email/post outlining each of your lots and the hammer price of each item. If you would like to know the outcome on the day, you are welcome to telephone the saleroom about an hour after the end of the auction.
Unsold Lots

If one or two of your lots remain unsold after an auction we will be in touch with our recommendations on what to do next. The specialist in charge of the sale may suggest that either your lot is re-offered again in a future auction, collected by yourself or transferred to a secondary saleroom. If you decide you are not happy with our recommendations please call us to discuss. If we do not hear from you we may proceed with our recommendation. Lyon & Turnbull do not charge for unsold lots.
Settlement

Payment will be sent 28 working days after the auction for all lots sold and collected along with a detailed settlement statement. It is at this stage that we deduct our fees and charges (including any transport fees incurred at consignment). Payments are normally made by cheque, if you would prefer to receive settlement by bank transfer please let us know at the consignment stage.