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A message from the Auctioneer

As one of Australia’s leading fine art auction houses, in our Fifty-plus years of operation we have sold some of the world’s most beautiful and covetable antiques, fine arts, wine and vehicles.

On any auction day you might find items ranging from opulent French Boulle inlaid cabinets to elegant Georgian chairs, from exquisite 18th century English porcelains to intricately cast European bronzes, and from Australian art to contemporary designer carpets.

Our auction complex and gallery is the place to purchase everything from ‘wow factor’ statement pieces to antique furniture that suits contemporary interiors and family-oriented lifestyles. Most of the items are in exceptional condition and ready to be placed in your home or office.

We believe one of the factors in our success and longevity is that we diligently work for both buyers and sellers.

Our services include:
•    Selling on commission
•    Cataloguing and research
•    Condition reports on request
•    Specialist and single vendor auctions
•    Valuations for insurance
•    Superannuation investment advice
•    Corporate collections – selling or accumulating
•    Financial institutions work
•    Private treaty selling
You may feel that buying or selling at auction is a daunting prospect. You are more than welcome to attend our auctions without obligation, experience the unique atmosphere and perhaps gain some new knowledge on the pieces being sold. Climate controlled, unique displays, plentiful seating, free coffee and detailed catalogues make for an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

We are happy to answer queries, offer advice and help in any way possible during the viewing sessions that precede each auction. If you’d prefer a quieter time to discuss how we can help, please feel free to make an appointment with us. Naturally, we will treat these discussions as confidential.

We conduct auctions in most Australian capital cities. Our headquarters and auction complex are in Adelaide where we hold Sunday auctions every three to five weeks.

On behalf of everyone at du Plessis Auction Gallery, I invite you to our next auction and look forward to being of service.

Marc du Plessis
General Manager & Auctioneer

Selling at Auction

We invite you to sell your items through us.

When you enter something for auction, you can be assured that it will be given the best opportunity to reach its maximum price. From detailed cataloguing, plus research if required; to presentation at the viewing and during the auction; to the knowledgeable, informative and sales-oriented talk of the auctioneer on the rostrum – you will receive a level of service that is pleasing and goes well beyond industry standards, as has always been our way.

If we think your item is more suited to a more intimate setting, our gallery space is available for this option.

In addition, our following of knowledgeable and informed clients throughout Australia and abroad means your items are seen by the people most likely to buy them.

These features work together with our reputation for fair dealing and our authoritative catalogues to position us as a leading firm for the selling of antique furniture and clocks, Australian paintings, Persian carpets, silver, English- European & Oriental porcelains, art glass, bronzes, jewellery and objets d’art.

We conduct auctions of collections and complete residence contents in most Australian cities on request.

For more information on our procedures, rates and more, please phone us on (08) 8234 1804.

In matters of temporary non-liquidity and recovery, consult us, being assured of strictest confidence at all times.

Buying at Auction

There are four ways to bid at auction: in person, by leaving an absentee bid,  bidding via phone, or using our mobile app. You can chose to use any of these methods, however we recommend you attend our viewing session beforehand to see each item before making your bids. Please note that identification, such as a driver’s licence, is required when you register to bid.

1) In person – Bidding at auction brings out the competitive spirit in most people. So if you enjoy excitement and a challenge, this is for you. It’s also an excellent way to build your knowledge from the auctioneer’s descriptions and to estimate what price items may fetch. To bid at auction, stop at the front counter on your way in and fill in a bidding form to obtain your bidding number. When it comes to bidding, our auctioneer usually guides the bid increments or may invite you to nominate your own.

2) Absentee bidding – If you are pressed for time, have other commitments or are not confident about bidding, we can bid on your behalf. You nominate your maximum bid and one of our staff members will bid for you. To ensure a fair price for you, our auctioneer is unaware of your bid limit. It’s not unusual for a winning absentee bid to be a lot lower than a client’s maximum limit. To leave an absentee bid, please ask for a form at the front counter. There is no charge for this service.

3) Phone bidding – This offers you the freedom to be away from the auction rooms, yet judge the unfolding competition for each item and bid accordingly. We will phone you just before each item comes up and will keep you informed of the bidding as it happens. To bid by phone, please ask for a form at the front counter. There is no charge for this service.

4) Bid using our App – This allows you the convenience of bidding from anywhere in the world. Easy to use, bid live as if you were in the room.

Condition Reports

As with anything you are considering purchasing, it is best to inspect it yourself beforehand. However, if you are unable to attend one of our viewing sessions, we are happy to provide a condition report together with the detailed catalogue description. Please contact us promptly to arrange a report, as time constraints may make it impossible to help in the immediate days before the auction.

Making Payments

Buyer’s Premium
An industry low 16.5% buyer’s premium (inclusive of G.S.T) is applicable on the hammer price for in room bidding. For on-line bidding the industry standard 22% (inclusive of G.S.T) is applicable. It will be clearly indicated, both in our catalogues and announced prior to the start of the auction, to remind prospective purchasers.

GST

All privately entered items are exempt from the Australian Goods and Services Tax, which is charged at 10%. GST is generally only applicable at auctions where the items for sale are owned by a business, such as a corporate art collection. When GST is applicable, it will be clearly indicated in our catalogues.

Payment methods
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners. Cheques (with suitable identification) direct deposit, and cash are a payment alternative. Unless other arrangements are made with us, all payments must be finalised by the end of the auction day or during the business day immediately following. You can pay during the auction, however you will have to wait until completion of the auction before collecting your items. For on-line bidding, please avail yourself of our payment methods.

Self Managed Superannuation Funds

We are happy to provide assistance and advice for investment purchases for your self managed superannuation fund. Please contact us for more information

Insurance

We appreciate that you may find it difficult to arrange insurance on your purchased items at short notice. As an additional service to our clients, all items purchased at our auctions and remaining on our premises are covered by our insurance for a period of 48 hours immediately following completion of the auction.

If you have purchased your items for much less than the typical replacement price, you may want a written insurance valuation. We are happy to provide one for a nominal fee. We also can provide detailed valuations for your other antiques and fine arts – please contact us to discuss our fee and a suitable viewing time.

Cultural Items

We remind overseas purchasers that certain items, such as Aboriginal artwork and pieces of national significance, are subject to the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act. For more information, please visit the Australian Government’s website.