How to Buy

This is dependent on how you are bidding. If it is in-person on auction day, you can pay by debit or credit card and take your items straight away. Please note we no longer accept cash or cheques. If you are bidding online, or via phone/commission bids, you will receive an invoice from us within 24 hours. Invoices can be paid by bank transfer or by logging into your account and paying securely on this site using debit/credit card. Additional charges apply for International bank cards.

Collections are by appointment where at all possible, in order that we can get your items ready for you. You can book using our online calendar Book an Appointment

We pride ourselves on the quality of our packing, and subsequent postage. All items are individually wrapped before being packed in double walled boxes with plenty of recyclable and recycled packaging.  Our in house packing team have many years' experience packing and shipping antiques and collectables worldwide.

You can find a guide to our postage charges here

The majority of auction items will be packed and dispatched within 7 - 10 working days of the invoice payment being received - the exception to this is if we need to order a special sized box, or additional packing materials or get a bespoke quote from a courier company.

For International charges please ask us for a quote in advance of the sale where possible.  We use Royal Mail and various courier companies to provide the best service and price for our customers.

• Telephone Bids - Please download and complete this form and return it to us by email    Telephone Bidding Form
• Commission Bids - These are done online - Here's How - Commission Bids

The Buyer's Premium added to the hammer price whilst bidding live in the room, or by commission or telephone bid is 27% (inc. VAT).

For live online bidders on our website the buyer's premium is 30% (inc. VAT)

For live online bidders on the-saleroom.com the buyer's premium is 33% (inc. VAT)

EXCALIBUR AUCTIONS Ltd hereinafter referred to as The Auctioneer and to include any person acting upon his authority.

1. General Conditions of Sale

a. Third Party Liability: All persons on the premises of, or at a venue hired or borrowed by The Auctioneer are there upon their own risk.

b. They shall have no claim against the Auctioneer in respect of any accident, injury or damage howsoever caused.

c. Admission: The Auctioneer reserves the right of admission, which in the case of a view auction will be by catalogue and registration.

2. Catalogue:

a. Auction: All descriptions, whether printed or oral, are statements of opinion not fact.

b. Intending purchasers should satisfy themselves as to the condition, age etc. of all pieces and lots.

c. All goods are second hand and SOLD AS SEEN, and are exempt from the provisions of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and subsequent amendments.

d. All statements as to the authenticity of lots shall be statements of opinion. Notwithstanding any other of these Terms and Conditions of Engagement, if within 7 days of the sales of any lot the purchaser gives written notice to the Auctioneer that in his or her opinion it is a deliberate forgery, as defines below, and within 14 days of such notice, returns the lot to the Auctioneer, in the same condition as it was at the time of sale and by producing evidence (the burden of proof being on the purchaser) satisfies the Auctioneer that the lot is a deliberate forgery, then the Auctioneer will be entitled to rescind the sale and will refund the purchase price to the purchaser.  In the context of this guarantee ‘a deliberate forgery’ means a lot made with the intention to deceive when considered in the light of the catalogue entry and which at the date of sale had a value substantially less than it would have had, had it been in accordance with the description. However, there will be no right where the catalogue description, at the time of sale, was in accordance with the general opinion of experts, or fairly indicated there to be a conflict of opinion. The Auctioneers reserve the right in forming their opinion to consult and rely upon any expert or authority considered by them to be reliable.

3. The Auction Process.

The Auctioneer reserves the right:

i. To accept or refuse any bid(s),

ii. Regulate the bidding and amounts of any bid(s),

iii. Rearrange, consolidate or withdraw any lot(s) or part of any lot without reason or notice.

iv. In the event of a dispute, the Auctioneer has absolute discretion to settle such dispute.

v. All transactions associated with this auction sale shall be governed by English law.

4. Conditions of Sale - Vendors

a. Indemnity: The Vendor indemnifies the Auctioneer together with his servants and agents who act solely as agent for the Vendor.

b. Title: The Vendor warrants to the Auctioneer and the Purchaser that he is the absolute owner of any lot and is authorised to sell the same and pass marketable title free of any encumbrance or claim.

c. Instructions: All lots are sold at the Auctioneer’s discretion unless written instructions to the contrary are received by the Auctioneer more than 24 hours prior to the auction. (Responsibility for receipt of such instructions rests with the Vendor)

d. Proceeds: The Vendor authorises the Auctioneer to deduct all monies due to him from the auction proceeds.

e. The Auctioneer shall not be liable for settlement of any lot(s) for which he is not in possession of cleared funds.

5. Conditions of Sale - Purchasers

a. Acknowledgment: In making a bid, for any lot whether in person or otherwise all persons acknowledge they have read, understand and abide by all these Conditions of Sale.

b. Title: Responsibility for a purchased lot shall pass at the fall of the hammer; however, legal title shall not pass until the Auctioneer is in possession of cleared funds in payment for that lot.

c. Payment and Clearance: All lots must be paid for in full within 7 days following the conclusion of the auction except where agreed by the Auctioneer in writing.

d. No lot(s) may be removed until cleared funds are to hand except where agreed by the Auctioneer.

e.

e.Items become the property of Excalibur Auctions Ltd – 42 days after the auction

Late Collection

• Items are held for two weeks after the auction free of storage costs.
• Items which remain uncollected 14 days from the date of auction will be removed to an offsite storage facility and will incur a £20 administration fee and a storage charge of £1 per lot per day.
• Once items have been placed in offsite storage, 24 hours advanced notice is required to retrieve the items ready for collection.
• Items which remain uncollected without written authorisation for more than 42 days from the date of auction, will become the property of Excalibur Auctions Ltd and resold at a future auction to defray costs.
• Items held for longer than two weeks after the auction will be removed offsite to a storage facility and will become subject to storage charges at the auctioneer's discretion and interest at 3% over Barclays Bank Base Rate
• Items which remain uncollected without written authorisation for more than 6 weeks after the auction, will become the property of Excalibur Auctions and resold at a future auction to defray costs and the bidder will be banned from buying in future sales.  We reserve the right to share non-paying bidder information with other auction houses and the operators of live bidding services.

f. The Buyer will pay to the Auctioneer the hammer price together with a Buyer’s Premium calculated at a rate of 22.5%, plus VAT at the prevailing rate.

6. Important Information

Online Live Webcast

i. Excalibur Auctions offer an online bidding service via the-saleroom.com or our own website

ii. In completing the bidder registration on any of the online platforms and providing your credit card details and unless alternative arrangements are agreed with Excalibur Auctions you:

1. authorise Excalibur Auctions, if they so wish, to charge the credit card given in part or full payment, including all fees, for items successfully purchased in the auction, and

2. Confirm that you are authorised to provide these credit card details to Excalibur Auctions and agree that Excalibur Auctions are entitled to ship the goods to the card holder name and card holder address provided in fulfilment of the sale.

c. Please note that any lots purchased via the online platforms will be subject to an additional 6% (the saleroom.com or 3% (excaliburauctions.com) commission charge inclusive at the rate imposed on the hammer price.

d. Value Added Tax (VAT): If VAT is applicable to any lots this will be indicated in the catalogue listings

f. Absentee Bids: Complete the Commission Bid form and return it to the Auctioneer who will execute such bids without obligation.

g. Imperfections: The condition of pieces, (other than where a number are included in the same lot) is mentioned in this catalogue. This is intended as a guide to assist potential purchasers.

h. It remains the responsibility of the Purchaser to satisfy himself/herself as to the condition of each piece and lot. See General Conditions of Sale

i. Estimates: This is a guide as to what price the lot may attain based on previous results and Excalibur Auctions’ knowledge of the prevailing market

j. Auction Duration: Lots will be sold in numerical order (unless otherwise stated) at a likely rate of between 100 and 120 lots per hour.

k. Payment and Clearance: Accounts may be settled by bank transfer, debit card or credit card (non-EEA issued debit and credit card payments will incur an additional charge of 4% on the total sum payable).

l. Shipping: 

Packing and Shipping will be handled by Excalibur Auctions.  Shipping details including postage and packing charges available on our website.

Invoices will be produced within 48 hours of the sale.

Excalibur Auctions are happy to supply Condition Reports on the understanding that whilst every care is taken in detecting damage they will not be responsible for unseen faults.  We recommend all potential purchasers examine all lots in person prior to bidding.

The term 'general condition consistent with age' when used without any other text, refers to the fact that all items sold in auction are second hand and may therefore show signs, no matter how slight, of handling and use.

No faults or imperfections are mentioned in the description of any lots in this sale.  All items sold are likely to have been subject to wear and tear caused by the user or the effects of age and may therefore have faults and imperfections. 

If you would like a condition report please contact us.  We take every care to provide an accurate condition report but we are not professional restorers and therefore we recommend that you consult such a professional within the appropriate field who will be in a much better position to advise you of the condition of any lot. 

Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the condition of any lots on which they wish to bid and any statement made by any member of Excalibur Auctions' staff, written or verbal, is a subjective qualified opinion and is only provided on this basis.  Bidders are reminded to read our Terms & Conditions of Sale and note that by bidding on an item, they agree to be bound these Conditions of Sale.

If you're having trouble creating an account to bid live or leave commission bids online then please do take two minutes to watch this video which explains exactly how to do it

Creating an Account / Signing In

Leaving Commission Bids Online