Buying at auction
The auctions and the previews are public.
We recommend that everybody visits the pre-sale exhibitions and to examine the quality and the condition of the art works. Due to reproduction (catalog and internet) it might be possible that slight colour deviations occur. Unfortunately, not even the most modern techniques avoid such mutations and changes.
We kindly ask you to carefully read the conditions of sale by auction.
Bidding list on the internet
Probably, your interest is attracted by several objects and you cannot take an immediate decision. Just click on the field "save to my bidding list" and you can collect the artworks which interest you.
On your bidding list you can view and edit your collection, put in your limits or place your phone orders. This list is visible only on your screen and designed for your personal use. When your bidding list is complete, you can transfer the details into the Bidding Order Form.
Bidding in person at auction
To bid in person, just come to the reception before the auction begins. If you are a first-time bidder, you may be asked to identify yourself (ID Card, passport) and to supply financial references.
To bid on an object, simply raise your hand. This will indicate the auctioneer your bid.
The bidding increments are decided by the auctioneer, and usually do not not exceed ten percent of the previous bid.
Absentee Bids / Written Order Bids
If you cannot attend the auction in person and wish to bid, you can do so by completing the absentee bid form and submit your written bid.
On the internet: on the page with detailed information of the respective lot number, just click into the field "save to my bidding list" and so you can collect the artworks which interest you. On your bidding list, you can view, edit your collection, put in your maximum bid amount, insert your address and personal details and print the form. The form must be duly signed. Then either send it by mail to our address or simply fax the list to Germann Auction House Ltd.
A "Blank List" can also be printed and filled out in handwriting.
The form is also included in each catalog.
Your bid, with your maximum amount, will not be exceeded. The premium on the hammer price and the applicable Swiss VAT are not included in your bid and will be added to the price. As a rule, the lots will always be bought for the lowest increment that exceeds all competing bids and which meets or exceeds the reserve price.
The signed forms must be received by Germann Auction House Ltd. no later than 24 hours before the auction begins.
We strongly recommend that you send in your written orders as early as possible because, in the event of identical bids, the earliest received will take precedence.
Bids by telephone
We will call you during the auction.
If you decide to bid by telephone, we will call you on the phone number listed in your order form shortly before the requested lot comes up for sale.
Please ensure your telephone lines are not occupied and that you have our catalog available. As a rule, the auction proceeds rather fast and therefore, it is advisable that you roughly decide in advance on the amount you are willing to pay. The premium on the hammer price and the applicable Swiss VAT is not included in your bid and will be added to the price. Our team is eager to actively engage you in the auction process and will help you to successfully place your bids.
To place your telephone order you simply fill out the form "Bidding Order" as described in the paragraph "Absentee Bids". Instead of filling in an amount you just write "Phone Order" and state the telephone number (including country code) at which you can be reached during the time the auction takes place.
The signed forms must be received by Germann Auction House Ltd. no later than 24 hours before the auction begins.
The telephone lines are limited.
Premium
All buyers shall pay a premium on the hammer price for each lot, calculated as follows:
For a hammer price up to CHF 400'000.-: 20%
For a hammer price above CHF 400'000.-:
20% on the first CHF 400'000.-
12% on the difference between CHF 400'000.- and the hammer price.
Value added tax (VAT / MWST)
The above mentioned buyer's premium is subject to the Swiss VAT, which is to be paid by the buyer.
For lots marked with asterisk (*) both, the price at which the object has been knocked down and the buyer's premium are subject to the Swiss VAT.
After an export declaration, duly signed by the Swiss customs authorities, has been received, Germann Auction House Ltd. will refund the Swiss VAT to foreign buyers, provided that the sum exceeds CHF 50.-.
Payment and release of acquired objects
You may pay for your purchase immediately after the auction by going to the Cashiers and take the objects with you. Payment by cheque is deemed to have been effected only upon receipt of a written, irrevocable bank confirmation. Payment by credit card is not accepted.
Otherwise, the invoice will be sent to you by mail and must be paid within 10 days either by bank or post transfer. Late payments are due to a penalty of 1% interest per calendar month.
The objects acquired must be picked up at the close of the auction or within ten days thereafter at the risk and cost of the buyer. After 10 days from the auction, the buyer is fully liable for the loss, theft, damage or destruction of the acquired items. Germann Auction ceases to have liability after the said period. If the buyer fails to pay and collect the purchased lots within 10 days after the auction, the objects will be stored at the buyer's expense and entire risk either at Germann Auction House Ltd. premises or with a third party and will be subject to a handling fee and charges for storage.
Decision to sell at auction
Do you wish to sell your artworks at auction?
On your behalf, Germann Auction House Ltd. will put up for sale paintings, sculptures, graphics prints, photographs and poster from the 19th/20th/21st centuries.
We will evaluate the chances for a successful sale of your objects based on your individual needs and expectations. Our vast network of international experts, museums, art historians, collectors and art dealers, gives us the necessary expertise to counsel your on price expectations and market chances.
Our long-term staff are always available to assist you with the sale of individual pieces, entire collections and estates.
We look forward to assisting you with expert consultations, professional evaluations and selling your artworks at auction.
Germann Auction House Ltd. is a Member of the Association of Swiss Auctioneers.
For our auctions, we are looking for works by the following artists:
Ackermann, Adami, Aeschbacher, Afro, Agam, Aizpiri, Albers, Alechinsky, Anker, Antes, Arman, Amiet, Anker, Antes, Anzinger, Appel, Araki, Archipenko, Arman, Armleder, Arp, Artschwager, Attersee, Auberjonois, Aubertin, Auerbach, Bachmann, Bacon, Baier, Bailly, Baj, Baldessari, Balla, Balkenhol, Balthus, Bänninger, Barcelo, Bargheer, Barlach, Barraud, Barth, Baselitz, Basquiat, Bauchant, Bauer, Baumeister, Bazaine, Bearden, Beckmann, Bellmer, Ben, Benazzi, Berger, Bernard, Berrocal, Beuys, Biéler, Bill, Bissier, Blanchard, Boccioni, Böcklin, Boetti, Bombois, Bonalumi, Bonfanti, Bonnard, Borès, Borofsky, Bosshard, Botero, Bott, Boudin, Bourdelle, Bourgeois, Bozzolini, Brancusi, Brandt, Braque, Brasilier, Brauer, Brauner, Brayer, Brianchon, Brignoni, Brodwolf, Broodthaers, Brown, Brus, Bryen, Buchet, Buchser, Buffet, Bühlmann, Buri, Burckhardt, Burri, Burroughs, Bury, Cage, Cahn, Caillebotte, Calame, Calder, Calderara, Camenisch, Camoin, Campendonk, Campigli, Canogar, Camenisch, Camoin, Campgrossi, Campigli, Cane, Carigiet, Carrà, Cartier-Bresson, Cassigneul, Castan, Castellani, Castelli, Cauchois, César, Cézanne, Chadwick, Chagall, Chaissac, Chamberlain, Charchoune, Chia, Chillida, Chirico, Christen, Christo, Cingria, Claisse, Clavé, Clemente, Clerque, Cobo, Cocteau, Coignard, Combas, Comensoli, Condo, Consagra, le Corbusier, Corinth, Corneille, Cornell, Cragg, Crignis, Crippa, Cross, Cruz-Diez, Cucchi, Cunz, Dahm, Dahmen, Dalí, Daniot, Daumier, Davie, Degas, Demarco, de Kooning, Delaunay, Delvaux, Denis, Derain, De Smet, Despiau, Dewasne, Dexel, Diday, Diebenkorn, Dietrich, Diller, Disler, Dine, Dix, Doig, Dominguez, van Dongen, Dorazio, Droese, Dubuffet, Duchamp, Dufy, Dumas, Dunoyer de Segonzac, Dzamonja, Emin, Eplattenier, Epper, Erni, Ernst, Espagnat, Estève, Fabre, Falk, Fantin-Latour, Federle, Fedier, Feininger, Fetting, Fievre, Fini, Fischl, Fischer, Fischli - Weiss, Flanagan, Flavin, Fontana, Forain, Förg, Foujita, Francis, Frankenthaler, Freud, Freundlich, Friedländer, Friesz, Frölicher, Fuchs, Gabo, Gastini, Gaugin, Gehr, Geiser, George, Germain, Gerstner, Gertsch, Giacometti, Giger, Gilot, Gilbert & George, Gimmi, Girardet, Girke, Glarner, Glattfelder, Gleizes, Gnoli, van Gogh, Goldin, Gontscharowa, Gonzalez, Gorin, Gorky, Gormley, Gottlieb, Götz, Graeser, Graubner, Grau-Sala, Grave, Greco, Grieshaber, Gris, Gromaire, Grosz, Gruber, Gubler, Guillaumin, Gusky, Guttuso, Hächler, Hafif, Hains, Haller, Hamak, Hamaguchi, Hambourg, Hamilton, Haring, Hartung, Haubensak, Hausner, Hayter, Heckel, Heiliger, Heizer, Helbig, Held, Hepworth, Herbin, Herbst, Herdeg, Hesse, Hinterreiter, Hirst, Hoehme, Hockney, Hodgkin, Hodler, Hofer, Höfer, Hofkunst, Hofmann, Hölzel, Honegger, Hrdlicka, Hubbuch, Hundertwasser, Hutter, Icart, Ikemura, Immendorf, Indermaur, Indiana, Innes, Iseli, Itten, Janco, Janssen, Jacquet, Jawlensky, Jenkins, Jensen, Johns, Jones, Jongkind, Jorn, Judd, Kadar, Kandinsky, Kapoor, Kassak, Katz, Kelly, Kiefer, Kienholz, Kippenberger, Kirchner, Kirkeby, Kitaj, Kisling, Klapheck, Klasen, Klee, Klein, Kline, Klimt, Klotz, Koch, Kogan, Kokoschka, Kolar, Kolbe, Koller, Kollwitz, Knoebel, Konok, Kooning, Koons, Kounellis, Krasner, Kreienbühl, Kricke, Kuhn, Kündig, Kunz, Kupka, Kusama, Lam, Lanskoy, Lapicque, Laurencin, Laurens, Lavier, Lebasque, Lebourg, Le Corbusier, Léger, Leppien, Le Sidaner, Leuppi, Lewitt, Lhote, Lohse, Lichtenstein, Lichtsteiner, Licini, Liebermann, Lindner, Liner, Lipchitz, Lissitzky, Loewensberg, Lohse, Loiseau, Long, Longo, Louis, Luce, Lucebert, Luginbühl, Luiz, Lüpertz, Lurati, Luther, Lüthi, Lüthy, Luginbühl, Macke, Maclet, Magnelli, Magritte, Maillol, Manessier, Mangold, Manguin, Man Ray, Marcoussis, Mané-Katz, Manet, Mangold, Manser, Manzoni, Manzu, Marc, Marcks, Marcoussis, Marden, Maria, Marioni, Marini, Marquet, Martin, Masson, Mathieu, Matisse, Matta, Mattioli, Mauboulès, Maufra, Meier-Denninghoff, Melotti, Merida, Merz, Metzinger, Metzler, Meyboden, Michaux, Mitchell, Middendorf, Millarès, Miró, Modersohn-Becker, Modigliani, Moholy-Nagy, Moillet, Mondrian, Monet, Moore, von Moos, Morandi, Morandini, Morach, Morellet, Moret, Morisot, Morley, Moser, Mosset, Motherwell, Mucha, Mueller, Müller, Munch, Münter, Music, Natkin, Nauman, Nay, Nebel, Nemours, Nevelson, Nicholson, Nitsch, Noland, Nolde, Novelli, Oehlen, Oelze, Oguiss, Okitzki, Oldenburg, Oppenheim, Ozenfant, Paalen, Paik, Paladino, Palermo, Panamarenko, Parc, Paolozzi, Pascin, Pasmore, Patko, Pearlstein, Pechstein, Peiffer-Watenpuhl, Pellegrini, Penalba, Penck, Peng, Penone, Perilli, Peské, Pettibone, Pfahler, Phillips, Picabia, Picasso, Pincemin, Pissarro, Pistoletto, Piza, Poliakoff, Polke, Pollock, Pomodoro, Poons, Popowa, Porges, Potthof, Prelog, Prince, Puni, Purrmann, Putz, Puy, Rabuzin, Raetz, Rafael, Raffaelli, Rainer, Ramos, Rauschenberg, Ray, Raynaud, Redon, Reichel, Reinhardt, Rembold, Renoir, Richier, Richter, Riley, Riopelle, Rist, Rivera, Rivers, Rodin, Roesch, Rohlfs, Rollier, Romeda, Rondinone, Rosenquist, Rotella, Roth, Rothko, Rouault, Rousseau, Rotella, Ruff, Ruscha, Rysselberghe, Saint-Phalle, Salle, Salvo, Sandback, Santomaso, Saudek Saura, Segal, Segantini, Seligmann, Schad, Scharf, Scheggi, Schiele, Schiess, Schifano, Schifferle, Schlemmer, Schmidt-Rottluff, Schnabel, Schneider, Schnider, Schnyder, Schöffer, Schröder-Sonnenstern, Schulze, Schumacher, Schürch, Schwitters, Scully, Seewald, Segal, Segantini, Segonzac, Sekula, Serra, Sérusier, Severini, Sherman, Sidaner, Sigg, Signac, Simbari, Singier, Sintenis, Sisley, Smithson, Sonderborg, Soto, Soulages, Soutter, Soutine, Spescha, Spoerri, de Staël, Stamos, Stankiewicz, Steffan, Steinberg, Steiner, Steinlen, Steir, Stella, Stern, Stöcklin, Strübin, Struth, Sugai, Sugimoto, Sultan, Survage, Sutherland, Takis, Talman, Tamayo, Tanguy, Tàpies, Tappert, Terechkovitch, Thiebaud, Thomkins, Tilson, Tinguely, Tobey, Tobiasse, Toffoli, Tomasello, Töpffer, Toroni, Toulouse-Lautrec, Trachsel, Trockel, Turcato, Tuttle, Tutundjian, Twombley, Uecker, Ury, Utrillo, Valadon, Valenti, Vallet, Vallotton, Valtat, van Dongen, Varejao, Varlin, Vasarely, Vautier, Vedova, Velde, Venet, Vieira da Silva, Villon, Vital, Vlaminck, Vostell, de Vries, Vuillard, Walker, Wang, Warhol, Werefkin, Wesselmann, West, Wey, Wiemken, Wiggli, Winnewisser, Winter, Wölfli, Wols, Wotruba, Wunderlich, Wyss, Yokoi, Yoshikawa, Yvaral, Zao Wou-Ki, Zadkine, Zaugg, Zeniuk, Ziem, Zille, Zoderer, Zoff, Zülle, Zünd, Zuniga, Zurkinden, etc.
