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Frequently asked questions

General

Monday – Friday
9.00-12.00 & 13.00-17.30

During viewing days, we are open continuously from 10am to 6pm.

If you sign up for our newsletter (at the bottom right of this page), you will automatically be informed by e-mail of all activities at Bernaerts.
You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram as well.

Bernaerts specialises in setting up quality art auctions. We organise five auctions per year on the theme Old & Romantic Masters with paintings and sculptures by 15th to 19th century European artists. In addition, the focus is also on Modern Masters & Design. Quality antiques, refined furniture and applied arts (silver, porcelain, jewellery, Asiatics) are also on offer, dating from the Haute Epoque to the Art Déco period. In addition, the house has been organising Works on Paper auctions for years. Both old and modern drawings and prints are featured here, as well as old and rare books, modern antiquarian books, bibliophile editions and cartoon drawings.

Our team is always at your disposal for all your big and small questions. Get in touch via the contact form.

For more info on buying and selling at Bernaerts, you can follow the step-by-step guide via the following links:
I want to buy in an auction
I want to sell in an auction

With the climate in mind, we no longer print catalogues for every auction. All lots can always be accessed online, though.

Through our Store, you can order single copies of any printed catalogues.

An overview of upcoming or current auctions can be found here.

An overview of past auctions can be found here.

For exact auction and exhibition dates, please consult our Calendar.

We auction at a rate of around 60 to 70 lots per hour.
Based on this, you can therefore make a rough estimate of when a particular lot will be auctioned.

On Timed Online auctions, all lots are offered exclusively online by bidding on our website and app, with a fixed end date at which bidding closes. These lots will not be called in the hall by the auctioneer.
These auctions include pieces whose valuation is usually below €500.
The lots will also be displayed during the Live auction viewing days.
The commission of the Timed Online auction is 30%.

To bid along, follow this procedure:

1. go to www.live.bernaerts.eu
2. create your account (new customer) or log in to your existing account (existing customer)
3. click on ‘register’ for the session you wish to bid in
4. wait for our team to approve your registration (Note: we need a copy of your ID card for this)
5. after confirmation of your registration, you can place your bid*
6. after the auction is over, you will receive an e-mail with payment and collection details


* You can make a bid where you bid the next indicated amount or you can set a maximum bid. In the latter case, the system will automatically bid for you against any other contenders up to the amount of your maximum bid, according to the fixed bid steps. If your maximum bid is outbid, you will be notified via email and on the app. You can then bid higher if you wish. Your maximum bid is not visible to other bidders.

If you receive a counter-bid, or if a higher maximum bid has already been submitted by another bidder, the lot in question will appear with the bold text ‘OVERBID‘.

If several bidders have entered the same maximum bid, the one who first set his automatic bid will outbid the others.

When the lot is about to close and another bid comes in, bidders will be given 10 minutes to respond each time.

The ‘Aftersale’ is the online after-sale of the lots that remained unsold during the live auction. Interested parties will get a “second chance”, so to speak, here and can leave a bid on a lot they missed during the live sessions until the Monday following the Live auction. However, the starting price will generally be the same starting price as during the Live auction. The commission for this auction is 30%.

To bid along, follow this procedure:

1. go to www.live.bernaerts.eu
2. create your account (new customer) or log in to your existing account (existing customer)
3. click on ‘register’ for the session you wish to bid in
4. wait for our team to approve your registration (Note: we need a copy of your ID card for this)
5. after confirmation of your registration, you can place your bid*
6. after the auction is over, you will receive an e-mail with payment and collection details


* You can make a bid where you bid the next indicated amount or you can set a maximum bid. In the latter case, the system will automatically bid for you against any other contenders up to the amount of your maximum bid, according to the fixed bid steps. If your maximum bid is outbid, you will be notified via email and on the app. You can then bid higher if you wish. Your maximum bid is not visible to other bidders.

If you receive a counter-bid, or if a higher maximum bid has already been submitted by another bidder, the lot in question will appear with the bold text ‘OVERBID‘.

If several bidders have entered the same maximum bid, the one who first set his automatic bid will outbid the others.

When the lot is about to close and another bid comes in, bidders will be given 10 minutes to respond each time.

Would you like to organise an art-related event in an interwar cinema converted into an auction room, in the heart of Old South Antwerp? Dispose of three rooms giving out onto a centrally located patio, situated in the shadow of KMSKA with nearby Kool and Steendok car parks. Discuss room hire options with Ilse Aerts (ilse@bernaerts.be).

Auctioneers Bernaerts is located at Antwerp South, right in the triangle between the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the MHKA and the FOMU, near the Zuidpark on the Vlaamse Kaai, with two underground car parks Steendok and Kooldok.

More info on how to reach our auction house can be found here.

There is no parking attached to the auction house, but there is a loading and unloading zone in front of the gate at Verlatstraat 16. Parking in the street or on the gedempte Zuiderdokken is also possible for a fee (via the app 4411 (zone AN131) or via text message).

For long-term parking: use the Q-park pay parking Steendok (entrance via Ledeganckkaai and Namenstraat) or Kooldok (entrance via Waalsekaai).

From Central Station, you have a few options:
– Tram 8 takes you directly via pre-metro station ‘Astrid’ to stop ‘Bres’ on Amerikalei, 600 metres on foot from the auction house.
– Tram 10 tram takes you directly from the pre-metro station ‘Astrid’ to the stop ‘Bestorming’ in the Brederodestraat, about 700 meters from the auction house.

From Central Station via Groenplaats: – Towards Groenplaats, you can take tram 3 and 5 at premetro station ‘Astrid’ or tram 9 and 15 at premetro station ‘Diamant’. There, transfer above ground to tram 4 towards the ‘Museum’ stop, just a 150-metre walk from the auction house.
– If you prefer to ride above ground: tram 11 and 24 go to Melkmarkt, there you can walk to Groenplaats to take tram 4 to the ‘Museum’ stop.

Tram 4 will also take you directly from Antwerp Berchem station. For more information, please consult www.delijn.be.

How to buy?

Our auctions are public and therefore open to everyone. You can register from half an hour before the start of the auction. Only if you wish to participate in bidding will you have to register with one of our reception staff and receive a bidding number. Seating is free, no need to reserve seats. You can leave the auction room at any time.

1. In the auction room

You can register at the reception desk with your ID from 30 minutes before the start of the auction. You will then receive a personal bid number with which you can make yourself clearly known to the auctioneer during bidding. This bid number remains valid during the various sessions. If you no longer wish to bid, please hand in the bid number to our staff when you leave the room.
To make registration smoother, we recommend reserving a place in advance via the appointment calendar. However, this is not an obligation.
Commission: 25%

2. Online or via the ‘Bernaerts-app’

From 2 weeks before the auction, you can already place a ‘prebid’ on one of the various bidding platforms Bernaerts Live, Invaluable or Drouotonline.
You can also bid live on these platforms during the Live Auction via livestream.
Register at least 5h before the start of the auction. You can log in from 15 minutes before the start of each auction session.
You can also use our app for this, downloadable from the app stores (Apple Store or Google Play Store).
Commission: 28%

If you have not registered in time, you can only watch the auction on live.bernaerts.eu via the ‘Watch Only’ function.

3. By absentee bid

Place a written bid via the online catalogue or mail a completed form to info(at)bernaerts.be at the latest 12h prior to the live auction. The auctioneer will try to acquire your lot at the most advantageous price possible. Note that this does not include auction fees.
Commission: 25%

4. By telephone

Request a telephone line via the online catalogue or mail a completed telephone bid form to info(at)bernaerts.be, at the latest 12h prior to the live auction. One of our team members will call you during the auction to bid live. You tell them whether you want to go along with the offer or not. This service is only available for lots from € 1000.
Commission: 25%

On top of the hammer price, a commission is charged on each lot, as well as a fixed administrative cost (€2/lot) and possibly the resale right.

  • Bidding in the auction room = 25%
  • Submitting an absentee bid = 25%
  • Bidding by telephone = 25%
  • Bidding via an online platform (live.bernaerts.eu, Drouot or Invaluable) = 28%
  • Timed Online auction = 30%
  • Aftersale = 30%

A resale right of 4% on the hammer price (for adjudication starting from € 2000) may have to be paid by the buyer of the lot. This applies to original works of art by living artists or artists who died less than 70 years ago.

The resale right is an extension of copyright law, which gives the creator of a work of art a right to remuneration when the work of art is resold.

This right may apply to works of visual and graphic art. The resale right is charged on the sale of original works of art by living artists or artists who died less than 70 years ago, starting from a hammer price of € 2000.
It amounts to 4% of the hammerprice up to and including €50,000.00;
3% of the part of the hammerprice from €50,000.01 up to and including €200,000.00;
1% of the part of the hammerprice from € 200,000.01 up to and including € 350,000.00;
0.50% of the portion of the hammerprice from €350,000.01 up to and including €500,000.00;
0.25% of the part of the hammerprice above €500,000.01.

However, the resale right may never exceed €12,500.00.
The first bracket’s rate of 4% must be applied to the entire amount falling within this bracket.

After the auction, you will receive a receipt by e-mail (or by post) with the various payment methods (bank transfer/ credit card/ bancontact).
You can collect your works by appointment (via the online appointment calendar) and upon receipt of payment.

If you come to collect after 10 days, a storage fee of €5 per day and per lot will be charged.

  • Via the payment link on your receipt
  • Via Bancontact, on collection (or with Visa, Mastercard or Eurocard)
  • By bank transfer stating your name/customer code, auction and lot number
    to account number IBAN BE02 6451 0493 5140
    BIC/SWIFT JVBABE22
    When transferring, please note that it may take several days to receive the amount in our account.
    The purchased good can only be collected upon receipt of payment.
  • Cash: in euro up to an amount of € 2999 per settlement, costs included.

Collection is done at our halls, by appointment, and is possible during office hours (09.00-12.00 and 13.00-17.30), on the Saturday after the live auction (from 10.00-12.00) and at the latest 10 days after the first auction day. No pick-up is possible during our auction sessions.

If the collection period has expired, a storage fee of €5 per day and per lot will be charged. If you are unable to do so yourself, you can authorise a third party to collect your purchases, upon receipt of payment.

We do not handle the packing and shipping of your items.

Therefore, we ask you to organise your own transport. You will find a list of our trusted transporters here.
Packaging and shipping costs are always at your expense and risk.

Our experts use the following terminology in the catalogue:

  • ANTOON VAN DIJCK (1599-1641)
    = According to our expertise a work by the artist.
  • ANTOON VAN DIJCK (1599-1641)
    attributed to
    = According to our expertise possibly a work by the artist, but further research is necessary.
  • ANTOON VAN DIJCK (1599-1641)
    workshop
    = According to our expertise, a work from the artist’s studio, perhaps with his cooperation.
  • ANTOON VAN DIJCK (1599-1641)
    circle
    = According to our expertise, a work made by an artist from the time and surroundings of the said artist.
  • ANTOON VAN DIJCK (1599-1641)
    after
    = According to our expertise, a work, not by the artist himself, but inspired by it, from the period or later.
  • ANTOON VAN DIJCK (1599-1641)
    genre
    = According to our expertise, a work created by an artist further removed in time from the aforementioned artist, whose theme was inspired by this artist.
  • ANONYMOUS
    bearing a signature
    = According to our expertise, not the artist’s signature.

How to sell?

It is recommended that you initially provide us with some photos of the items. A clear photo of the piece or some overview photos of the contents will give our experts a first impression about the quality and saleability of your antiques.

You can provide these photos by mail, e-mail (expertise(at)bernaerts.be) or via this intake form. Please include a brief description, dimensions and possible origin, as well as, if possible, signature, date, material and/or defects. To the extent possible, your request will be answered within a week of being sent.

If your goods receive a positive recommendation, we will ask you to visit our offices with these pieces for a more accurate evaluation. This estimate is free and without obligation. For important items and large household effects, we are happy to come to your home. For this, it is best to make an appointment.
More info on ‘how to sell’ can be found on our site here.

Upon request, we can provide you with a list of contacts we will refer you to if your item cannot be included in one of our own auctions.

Our experts are at your disposal to draw up an appraisal report on your art collection, valid for private use, for notaries or for insurance companies. The cost of such expertise is discussed in advance: depending on the size of the estimate, it is either flat or on a percentage basis. In the latter case, 3% is calculated on the minimum estimate value. Important: this percentage will be refunded to you if you decide to put the object(s) up for auction within the year: you will then be charged 12% commission instead of 15%. Thus, the estimation/expertise becomes free of charge.

A flat-rate valuation amounts to:
€ 325/h (consisting of € 250 expertise and € 75 dictation)
+ possible further research at our offices at € 125/h
+ travel expenses at € 0.50 per km
+ 21% VAT.
These costs cannot be recovered.

This is possible, after you provide us with photos so we can determine whether your art objects qualify for one of our auctions. You can make an appointment for this by phone or email (info@bernaerts.be).
A on-site expertise is free if the pieces are subsequently sold at auction.

For household effects, a larger quantity of works of art or collections, we are happy to visit you on site.

The commission fee is 15% of the hammer price.

Included in this commission are: expertise, storage, insurance, photography.
Not included in the commission: possible external expertise, possible transport.

After the sale of the goods, you will receive a statement indicating the hammer price minus the commission and possible costs (possibly transport or additional expertise). The net amount will be paid five weeks after the auction via bank transfer provided the lot has been paid by the buyer in the meantime.

An indicative estimate is included on the consignment note for each item.

There are several options concerning limit prices:

  • For pieces with an estimate of € 5000 or higher, a limit price can be determined by mutual agreement.
  • For pieces with an estimate lower than € 5000 a ‘discrete limit’ of 75% of the lower estimate applies.
    e.g. estimate € 1000 – 1500, discrete limit = € 750
  • In the Timed Online auctions, no limit prices apply.

Prior to each auction, there are viewing days, when potential buyers can come and view and examine the art objects on offer. The exhibition takes place from Thursday to Monday before the auction each time, continuously from 10am to 6pm. On the calendar online, you will find upcoming auctions and viewing days.
As a consignor, you are of course welcome to attend both the exhibition and the auction of your goods. You do not need to make reservations for this: the auction is public and open to all.
Moreover, as a seller, you will also have one free ticket to the Platform concert taking place on Sunday of the exhibition

You will receive an overview of the results of your auctioned items by mail or post the week following the auction. This lists the hammer prices per lot, as well as the net amount (hammer prices – 15% commission) that will be transferred to your bank account, five weeks after the auction closes and provided the lot has been paid by the buyer in the meantime.

  • Your lot remained withheld during the Live auction: it can be offered again on our online Aftersale, which ends on Monday after the Live auction.
  • Your lot also remained withheld in the Aftersale: it can be offered again in a future auction with significantly reduced estimate OR you can come to collect it.
  • Your lot remained withheld during a Timed Online auction: the lot must be retrieved at the latest 21 days after the conclusion of this auction.

Your question isn’t on the list above?
Please send us a message using our contact form.