How to bid?

You can bid in six different ways, either before or during the auction, live on site or digitally:

Bidding in person in the auction room is undoubtedly the safest way to win a desired item. Apart from enjoying the tense atmosphere during the auction, which is a very special experience, the bidder can respond directly to counter-bids. All items are presented once again when they are called.
Another way of participating in the auction is by telephone. As only a small number of lines are available, we ask for your understanding if we only offer this service for very high-value items. If you wish to do so, please contact us in writing, stating your telephone number.
The other way to participate in the auction is to bid in writing. The order form enclosed with the catalogue or available here can be used for this purpose. The bid must include the catalogue number of the desired item and, for security, the title in short form. The bid represents a maximum bid, which will only be utilised by us to the extent necessary to outbid a lower bid. This means, for example, that you can receive a winning bid of €350 with a maximum bid of €500. The buyer will be charged a so-called buyer's premium of 26% plus statutory VAT on the hammer price - this is only calculated on the buyer's premium (differential taxation).

Bidding via our online catalogues is a convenient and secure alternative to bidding in writing.

Among other things, you can use the full-text search function to quickly find the relevant lots. After the usual registration process, you can submit your bids directly.
You will receive a confirmation by e-mail immediately afterwards.

Please note that we always have to carry out an identity check. You can do this conveniently online.
We enable our customers to participate in the current auction as live bidders. This service will be provided via an external platform to which customers must register separately.
Click here to go to our live auction.
We also offer our auctions via Lot-tissimo.
Here you have the option of transferring bids to the auction room at the click of a button, just like on our own platform.
Please note that a separate registration via the Lot-Tissimo platform is required.
We also offer our customers the option of bidding via the Drouot bidding platform.
This requires registration, but the bidding process remains the same.

There are no additional or hidden fees. The same conditions apply as for other bidding procedures.

Drouot

In order to ensure a smooth process, we recommend that you register with us a certain amount of time in advance.
Due to new regulations, we are obliged to carry out a detailed identity check on all bidders. Further information.
If you wish to bid in writing or by telephone, we recommend early registration. Bids should be received 24 hours before the auction, otherwise we cannot guarantee that they will be accepted.

If you wish to bid in person in the auction room, we recommend that you bring sufficient time with you, as prior information on the time of the auction of the individual lots is always without guarantee.
We offer two different ways to bid live at our auctions.

Via our own platform. Here, in addition to the Venator & Hanstein account, a further registration is required.

Or via Lot-tissimo, where you also have to create an account in advance and register for our auctions.
If you win a bid, you will receive your invoice within 10 days of the auction.
Unless otherwise agreed, you will also receive a shipping cost proposal directly.
If you wish to collect your items yourself, please let us know and we will prepare them for safe transport.

If you wish to have the auctioned items shipped, we will pack them professionally and send them to you insured either by DHL or FedEx. The buyer bears the risk of shipping.

If the items are not suitable for shipping by post, we will help you to find a suitable carrier.