Hammer & Co Est. 1897 · New York
(212) 555-0184

Consignment

Bring us one thing, or bring us a house

Auction estimates are free and without obligation. A specialist looks at everything that comes in, and will tell you when a thing is worth less than the cost of selling it.

Gloved hands examining the surface of a painting under a loupe by raking lamplight.

Terms at a glance

What it costs and what it takes

Seller’s commission
12% of hammer
Cataloguing & photography
Included
Insurance in our care
Included
Commission on an unsold lot
None
Estimate turnaround
3 working days
Consignment to sale
8–14 weeks
Settlement
35 days after the sale
Request a valuation

The process

Six steps, and nothing hidden in any of them

  1. 01

    Send us a photograph

    A clear photograph of the front, the back, any signature and any label or mark. Dimensions if you have them, and anything you know about where it came from. A specialist looks at it — nothing is triaged by an algorithm — and comes back within three working days.

  2. 02

    We give an auction estimate

    Free and without obligation. An auction estimate is a range, not a valuation for insurance, and the two are different numbers for good reasons. If the thing is worth less than the cost of selling it, we will tell you that instead.

  3. 03

    You sign a consignment agreement

    Seller's commission is 12% of the hammer price. Photography, cataloguing, condition reporting and insurance while the property is in our care are included in it. There is no charge for a lot that does not sell, beyond an agreed reserve-setting fee on lots estimated above $50,000.

  4. 04

    We catalogue and photograph

    The department writes the entry, the studio makes the plates, and the condition report is written by the person who handled the object. You see the catalogue entry before it is published and can correct anything factual in it.

  5. 05

    We agree a reserve

    A reserve is a confidential minimum below which we will not sell. It may never exceed the low estimate. A reserve set too close to the high estimate is the commonest reason a good lot passes.

  6. 06

    The lot is sold and you are paid

    Settlement is 35 days after the sale, on cleared funds, less commission and any agreed charges. Every result is published, including lots that passed.

Where your property belongs

Talk to the department direct

Free and without obligation

Request an auction estimate

Tell us what you have. A specialist will reply within three working days, and will say plainly if it is not for us.

This form is part of a demonstration site and does not send anything. To reach the real thing, this is where a working endpoint would go.

Answers

Selling: the usual questions

What does it cost to sell?
Seller's commission is 12 per cent of the hammer price. Photography, cataloguing, condition reporting and insurance in our care are included. Restoration, specialist shipping and any agreed reserve-setting fee are additional and are agreed in writing before they are incurred.
How long does it take?
From consignment to sale is usually eight to fourteen weeks, depending on which sale the lot belongs in. Settlement is 35 days after the sale, on cleared funds.
What is the difference between an auction estimate and an insurance valuation?
An auction estimate is what we think a lot will fetch at open sale — a range, prepared in advance, and free. An insurance valuation is what it would cost to replace the object in a retail setting, is a single figure, is normally higher, and is charged for.
Do you take single items?
Yes. We also clear whole houses. A specialist will tell you which of the two your situation actually is, which is not always what people expect.
What if my lot does not sell?
It is passed. There is no commission on an unsold lot. The department will usually approach the underbidder after the sale, and can re-offer the lot in a later sale, normally at a revised estimate.