Fine Art & Antique Auction FAQ

All Maynards auctions are open to the public and anyone can attend. Our audience may include collectors, dealers, young professionals, students, first-time and long-time buyers, and people attending simply for the show. You are welcome to attend the auction whether you intend to bid or not.

No. Auctions are free to attend, and we welcome all visitors whether they intend to bid or not. Registering to bid at the auction is also free. The only time you have to pay is if you bid and win an item.

The easiest way to familiarize yourself with the auction process is to watch it in action. If you’ve never been to an auction before, attending one without the intention of bidding will allow you to gauge factors like the auctioneer’s speed, the increments by which bids increase and the value of items you may be interested in. Plus, you’ll get to experience the fun and energy of an auction. Even if you don’t intend to participate, think about registering and getting a bidder’s paddle – it’s easy to get caught up in the moment, and you don’t want to miss your chance to bid if you see something you love!

Of course. Formal previews are usually scheduled for the two or three days prior to an auction, and provide the public with a chance to view every item that will be available for sale. In addition, items are often available for informal previewing during Maynards regular business hours (Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00) well in advance of the auction date. Never hesitate to ask questions about an item you like; Maynards staff are on hand and pleased to provide anything from the lot number to a history and condition report upon request. If you are looking for a particular item and do not see a match on the auction floor, speak with a specialist. Our specialists see vast amounts of art and antiques during the course of their work, much of which may not be included in the next auction (and thus not currently displayed on the floor). It is likely that they will be able to help you source what you are seeking. If you see an item you like on the website, you are welcome to call and confirm that it is on display before you come to visit. On an auction day, it is a good idea to show up 30 minutes before the start of the auction in order to register, pick up your bidding card, and examine the items you like one last time before the auction begins.

All manner of items are sold at Maynards auctions. Frequent categories of sale include: fine Canadian and International art, Asian art and antiquities, ceramics and fine silver, jewelry and watches, antique and contemporary home furnishings, and objets d’art. Maynards also schedules regular Specialty Auctions, whose theme may be anything from Northwest Coast and Inuit Art to Vintage Firearms and Sporting Goods. Information about upcoming Maynards auctions is published well in advance on our website www.maynards.com/events . A catalogue is published in support of all auctions; it can be obtained by contacting the Fine Art & Antiques Department.

The items come from artists, private collectors, and their estates, and from museums and galleries for the purpose of raising funds or liquidating assets. Items are sold on a consignment basis, wherein the proceeds of the sale, less the buyer’s premium, are paid directly to the consignor.

The auctioneer starts off with a minimum bid and the interested buyers raise their paddles. The bids continue to increase so long as committed buyers remain, until only one is left. The auctioneer gives other bidders a last chance to raise their bids (stating, “fair warning”) before declaring the item, “sold” to the highest bidder.

You can bid online at www.maynards.com. Bidding online allows you to track items you bid on and keep a record of any items bought or sold. Bidding commences and closes at a predetermined time. If your bid is successful, payment and pick-up times are arranged at the close of the auction.

You have a number of options if you are unable to attend. You may place an absentee bid, in which you register your bid “in the book” and the auction house bids on your behalf up to the maximum price you were willing to pay. You may also bid by phone, or online at www.maynards.com. Most auctions are simultaneously conducted on-site, by phone and webcast.

An absentee bid enables a staff member to bid on your behalf according to the standard bidding process. Our auction representative will go up to, but no higher than, your top bid, trying to purchase the item for less than your maximum bid if possible. If your item is not in high demand among other bidders at that particular auction, you may end up paying less than the price you recorded. Essentially, the auction house acts as your partner to get you the best price possible. Note that the buyer’s premium will be added to the hammer price; determine your maximum bid accordingly.

Total purchases of less than $1,000.00 CAD may be paid by cash or uncertified personal cheque only if sufficient identification is provided to the cashier when paying. Total purchases over $1,000.00 may be paid by certified cheque, Visa, MasterCard, debit, traveler’s cheques, or bank draft drawn in Canadian dollars. Please note there will be a small handling fee on any transaction that is not cash. A deposit of 25 percent may be required as a down payment, with the balance to be paid no later than 3 days after the last session by 5:00 P.M.

A buyer’s premium (BP) is a small fee added to the winning bid, which goes to the auction house to cover sale costs. The current buyer’s premium for Maynards Fine Art & Antiques is 15% of the hammer price.

The easiest way to start the consignment process is to bring your item to the showroom and consult with staff. If you have yet to have your item appraised or it is too large for you to bring to the showroom, you can obtain an e-appraisal by emailing a photograph of the item along with a detailed description and any relevant facts to Jessica Carroll, Maynards’ auction floor manager, at JCarroll@maynards.com.

Alternately, you may contact a relevant specialist with questions:

Fine Art, Asian Art and Antiquities	Hugh Bulmer	Hugh@maynards.com
Antiques, Fine Art, Jewelry	Neil McAllister	Neil@maynards.com
Ceramics, Fine Glass, Objets d’art	Jill Turner	JTurner@maynards.com
Contemporary Art	Kate Bellringer	KBellringer@maynards.com

Some consignors specify an amount below which the auctioneer is not permitted to sell the piece. This hidden number is called the “reserve”.

Setting a reserve bid ensures that your consignment will not sell for below a certain value, but if set too high can also hinder its sale. If none of the bidders at the auction meet your reserve, the item goes unsold.

Sales at auction are final; it is up to the buyer to closely examine the item before bidding.

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