An important credo by auctioneer and expert Mon Bernaerts states that Belgian art trade is flourishing due to the knowledge and the keen choices made by the Belgian collector when purchasing antiques, modern and contemporary art.

 

By trusting on their own capabilities and relying on a growing clientele, Bernaerts achieves international prices for high quality antiques, furniture, paintings etc.

 

Through its strategic geographical location in Europe and the multilingualism of the inhabitants, Belgium takes a most desirable place in international art trade.

The same goes for Bernaerts in Antwerp, through an equally desirable location at close range from the Royal Museum of Art, many art lover or collector find their way to ‘Antwerp South’.

 

Started as small scale antique shop in a nearby town, Bernaerts gradually evolved to one of Belgian’s leading auction houses.

The penultimate moment in the history of Bernaerts was the sale of Magritte’s ‘Oiseau de Ciel’, from the Sabena bankruptcy. Bernaerts achieved hereby the sale of the most expensive work of art ever to be sold to this date in Belgium. The painting took off for no less than 3.815.000 Euros.

 

Other sales worth to be mentioned: Old Master Paintings collection of the Antwerp Jesuit College, the avant garde collection of René Victor, the modernist archive/ library of Paul-Gustave Van Hecke and Emile Langui, well received thematical sales ‘Around Van Dyck’, the bankruptcy of Sabena …

 

Besides the organisation of regular sales, the so-called ‘ventes bourgeoises’, Bernaerts is best known for its prestigious arts and antiques sales on which a wide range exceptional pieces are put on the block. 

The main recurrent thematical sales are: Old Master, Romantic and Modern Master Paintings along with appropriate furniture and artefacts ‘d’époque’.

Alongside these sales, there are more specialized sales such as: Books & Prints, Rare and fine wines, Comics, Ethnografical Art …

 

Bernaerts always takes the utmost care when it comes to their publications. Each sale is accompanied by a refined catalogue, in which every item is presented with an accurate approach. Every single lot is photographed in order to be presented online.

During the sales on the first floor, in the ‘Platform’ room, every lot is projected on wide screens as well.

Adding to the attraction of this fresh approach is the fact that the exhibition remains accessible during the sales.

 

Bernaerts delivers expertise when it comes to Old Master Paintings (16^th till 18^th century), Romantic, Modern and Contemporary Master Paintings (19^th -21^st century), applied arts (porcelain, silverware, jewellery), furniture, antiques, books and prints.

 

Bernaerts provides estimation reports for insurance, legal and private purposes. The rates therefore are either fixed or by percentage (3% on the overall lowest estimation). This percentage will be deducted from the 15% commission when Bernaerts is entrusted with the sale of these items.