If you have not bought with us before, we suggest you carefully read this guide to buying at Adam’s together with our Conditions of Sale. Any queries can be addressed to our fine art team on +353 1 676 0261 or info@adams.ie.
Registration
In order to bid you must have a My Adam’s account. You may be asked to provide ID, credit card details and in some cases proof of address; credit card details are strictly for security purposes only. It is also possible to sign up by filling in a physical form and returning it to us. If you wish to attend an auction you can call in advance and ask for a paddle to be put aside for you, or fill in a bidding form on the auction day.
The auction
Lots are offered for sale in numerical order as they appear in the catalogue, at an estimated 80–120 lots per hour depending on the category of sale. Bids are increased at the auctioneer’s discretion by approximately 10% of the bid price. To bid, raise your paddle clearly and promptly, and note your paddle number, as this will be your reference for later payment.
Absentee bids
If you cannot attend an auction in person, Adam’s can bid on your behalf, acting on your instructions to secure lots for you at the lowest possible price based on the bidding on the day. This is a free service. All bids must be received within 24 hours before the sale to ensure their safe execution. Buyer’s premium will be payable on the hammer price in the event of a successful bid.
Telephone bids
Telephone bidding may be arranged on lots with a minimum estimate of €500. As the number of telephone lines is limited, early booking is recommended, and we also recommend leaving a “security” bid in case we are unable to reach you by telephone.
Bidding live online
You can bid live by signing in during the auction; live bidding is activated 30 minutes before the auction start time. You can follow the auctioneer in real time and bid securely from your mobile, laptop or desktop, with no additional internet surcharge.
Timed online auctions
These auctions are solely online and automated. Bidding is open for a set period and whoever has the highest bid when the time runs out wins the lot. Lots close one by one, starting with Lot 1, with one minute between each lot; if there is active bidding on a lot, the time is extended to give other bidders an opportunity to bid again. By placing your maximum bid, the system will bid for you at the next winning increment, only up to your maximum. If you are outbid you will be notified immediately by email.
Paying your invoice
When you purchase an item at auction you will be emailed an invoice. You can pay online, by bank transfer (our bank details are included on your invoice), by phone with our accounts department, or in person. Non-EU card payments are subject to an additional 2% of the invoice total.