Popular questions
Everything you need to know.
Use the categories or search above to quickly find guidance from our specialists.
Specialist-reviewed answersUpdated for the 2026 auction
season
Create an ArtVault account, complete identity
verification, and select “Register to Bid” on the auction page. Once approved,
enter your maximum bid or participate live when the sale begins.
A maximum bid is the highest amount you are willing to
pay. ArtVault bids incrementally on your behalf and keeps that maximum private,
only increasing when another bidder competes with you.
Bids are binding and normally cannot be cancelled. If
you entered an incorrect amount, contact Client Services immediately. Any
correction is reviewed before the lot closes and is not guaranteed.
Send photographs, artist details, dimensions,
provenance, and condition information through our consignment form. A specialist
will review the work and contact you with a valuation and recommended sale
route.
Our specialists consider the artist’s market, comparable
results, rarity, condition, provenance, and current demand. The reserve is
agreed with the seller and never exceeds the low estimate.
Seller proceeds are normally released within 30 days
after the auction, provided the buyer’s payment has cleared and the artwork has
been collected or dispatched.
We accept major credit cards for eligible amounts and
verified bank transfers for all purchases. Your invoice will show the approved
methods, currency, buyer’s premium, and any applicable taxes.
The buyer’s premium is a percentage added to the hammer
price. The applicable rate is displayed on each auction and included in the
total shown before you confirm an online marketplace purchase.
ArtVault can coordinate specialist packing, transit
insurance, and worldwide delivery through approved art handlers. A tailored
quotation is provided after the sale based on size, value, and destination.
We review provenance, exhibition and publication
history, certificates, catalogue raisonné records, and artist or gallery
confirmation where appropriate. Independent expertise may be requested for
selected works.
Yes. Use the request link on the lot page or contact a
specialist. Reports describe the work’s visible condition and may include
detailed photographs, framing notes, and conservation observations.
We use secure account verification and encrypted payment
services. ArtVault never publishes your maximum bid or full payment information,
and access is limited to authorized transaction teams.
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