Buy

How to buy from our auction house?

Purchasing a property at the Marc Labarbe auction house is a unique, accessible, transparent, and completely secure experience. Whether you're an experienced collector or a novice, we offer personalized support throughout the process. 

  1. Discover our sales : you can access our sales by clicking on the “Upcoming sales"Each work is the subject of a detailed description, quality photographs and an estimate.  
  2. Visit our exhibition : Prior to each sale, an exhibition of the lots is organized in our auction house. This exhibition is public and open to all. You will then have the opportunity to discover the items up close, to appreciate them in their context, and to benefit from the advice of our auctioneers and experts, available to answer all your questions.  
  3. Participate in the auction On the day of the sale, you can bid in person in our auction room, by phone, or online at Interenchères and/or Drouot Digital, depending on your preference. If you choose to participate remotely, simply register on these platforms and bid directly online. 
  4. Make your offer during the sale : when you are ready to bid, simply indicate your intention by raising your hand if you are in the room, by clicking on the online platform, or by telephone if you have asked to be called before the sale.  
  5. Win the auction : if you are the highest bidder, you win the lot when the auctioneer says the word “Sold”! 
  6. Payment and withdrawal : after the auction, we will provide you with all the instructions for making the payment for your lot, you will receive by email a sales slip which you must pay within one month after the sale. Once your payment has been made, you can come and collect your purchase from our premises or, according to your preferences, arrange for delivery of your item (at your expense). 

 

Buying at auction in our Auction House is an opportunity to discover the world of auctions and rare pieces, to make a thoughtful investment, while benefiting from the expertise and service for which we are renowned. 

Definitions

An auctioneer conducts public auctions among which we must distinguish:

  • Voluntary sales at public auction: this is the case where an owner freely decides to part with his property. The voluntary sale is organized by the provisions of the Civil Code and the Commercial Code resulting from the law of July 10, 2000 and those of July 20, 2011. Note that sales costs in addition to the amount awarded are to be expected, generally around 20% excluding tax, or 24% including tax.
  • Judicial sales at public auction: a sale is considered judicial when it is provided for by a legal or regulatory text, or when it must be authorized by a judge. Here again, sales fees in addition to the amount awarded apply, set at 11,90% excluding tax, or 14,28% including tax.
 

A sale can be qualified as a public auction when it is open to any interested party who wishes to participate, under the sole condition of their solvency. The offers made by each bidder are thus known to the other participants, who retain the possibility of outbidding, the item presented being finally awarded to the highest bidder.

An auction is any offer of a sum of money equal to or greater than the starting price or the offer proposed by another bidder for the purchase of a thing. The bidder making the highest bid is called the final bidder and is designated by the auctioneer as the successful bidder for the property.Auctions therefore appear as an objective and automatic method of designating the person of the purchaser and the price.

The purchase order corresponds to a specific maximum amount in euros at which the auctioneer is asked to acquire the item. The auctioneer will act in the name and on behalf of the bidder, according to the instructions contained in the purchase order form, in order to try to purchase the lot(s) at the lowest possible price and in no case exceeding the maximum amount indicated.

In this way, if your personal or professional obligations prevent you from attending an auction, you can still try to acquire a property by first submitting a purchase order to the firm. 

 

How to bid ?

Since auctions are "public", they are open to anyone who can bid, that is, to anyone who is solvent.

The place where the sale takes place is open to everyone. The auctioneer ensures free access to the sale to the public.

The restrictions on participating in the auctions are those of common law: unemancipated minors, protected adults, persons under the influence of alcohol, etc.

The auctioneer may make participation in the auction subject to prior registration, as well as to the presentation of a payment guarantee, these conditions having to remain objective, non-discriminatory and appropriate.

The price is shouted. The sale is conducted in French and the bids are made in euros. The auctioneer directs the operations. He designates the item that is for sale and sets a starting price out loud. Those present make successive offers of increasing height. The item is awarded – that is, sold – to the highest bidder. 

It is possible to bid by making a simple sign, the sign being immediately translated into figures by the organizer of the sale who announces it orally.

If it is impossible to attend the sale, it is possible to carry out auctions remotely by means of a written order. To do this, just fill in a a purchase order form with the highest amount you are willing to pay for the artwork..
Once your form is registered, you will receive a confirmation by email.

If you can't attend the saleit is possible to place an absentee bid. You have to fill in purchase order form. 

Once your purchase order has been registered, you will receive confirmation by email. You will then be asked to provide an identity document as well as your bank references.
For some objects of exceptional character and/or value, a guarantee deposit may be required.

If the purchase order is made on behalf of a legal person such as a company, a Kbis extract and the manager's identity document mentioned in this document must be provided to us. 

If the auctioneer receives several orders for identical amounts on the same lot and if, during the auction, these orders represent the highest bids, it will be awarded to the bidder whose order was received first. .

No purchase order lower than the low estimate is accepted.

Full contact details must be entered in the form. 

If the purchase order has been completed, the bill of sale summarizing the designation of the objects purchased, the amount awarded and the total amount with the fees will be sent no later than 24 hours after the sale (excluding non-working days).

The sending is done to the email filled during the request or, in the absence of it, by postal way.

it is possible to place bids by telephone.

A phone call request is the one by which the person asks to be called on the phone during the auction, to make a live auction. To do this, simply fill in a telephone bid form.

Once your request is registered, you will have the confirmation by email or telephone. You may be required to provide an ID as well as bank details.
For some objects of exceptional character and/or value, a guarantee deposit may be required.

If the purchase order is made on behalf of a legal entity such as a company, you may be required to provide a Kbis extract and the ID of the manager mentioned in this document.

Please note that this is a free service provided by the Auction House that can not be held responsible in case of late request or defective telephone link or in case of any error made in telephone contact.

No telephone bid form for objects whose low estimate is lower than 200 euros is accepted.

 

If you want to bid on the internet, the Auction House Labarbe uses the platform Interencheres Live. Live sales are broadcast on https://www.interencheres-live.com/. They bring two new services:

  • of the live auctions it allows to remotely participate in a real-time auction. From your computer, you can follow the auction fire and the auctioneer's comments during the sale (with sound and video). At any time and with a single click, you can bid as if you were in the room on the lots you want.
  • of the secret purchase orders : interencheres-live.com offers a service of secret purchase orders. Secret purchase orders are automatically executed and computerized. Their maximum amounts are not disclosed to the auctioneer. The bidders benefit from the guarantee of a purchase at the fairest price if they win the auction.

If you want to participate in an auction live or deposit a secret purchase order, kindly note that you have to register BEFORE the sale on interencheres-live.com.

Taxes are alway included in the hammer price, but the selling fees are not. Selling fees are a percentage calculated on the total amount of the sales bill. They can cary from one sale to another.

If you bid on the internet, an additional 3-percent fee applies. It pays the subcontractor responsible for organizing the auction live.

The payment of any item is due immediately. spot.

You can pay cashcash in the limit of €1000 with fees for French citizens and up to €15,000 with fees for anybody whose tax domicile is abroad.

The payment can also be made by credit card when the place of the sale allows it. 4% additional fees are charged to purchasers holding foreign cards.

If you bids were placed remotely, payment must be made upon receipt of the sales slip. You can pay by making an appointment with our accounting department, or use a bank transfer. Please contact us to retrieve our bank details.

For purchases made via the platform interencheres-live.com, the total amount can be debited from the credit card you've used for the registration.

How to pick up your purchase ?

  • I'm leaving with my goods on the same day : the staff at the point of sale will give you your goods upon presentation of your slip (my invoice) fully paid.
  • I can not immediately take away my goods : exceptionally, we can grant you a period of 72 hours to allow you to organize the collection of your lots. To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to find out about the storage location of the item by contacting us beforehand. Your goods will be returned to you upon presentation of your slip (my invoice) fully paid.
  • I can also mandate the person of my choice to come and collect my goods : in this case you must: 
  1. fill out and send it to the Auction House a withdrawal authorization of the goods by a third person.
  2. This third person must present a copy of the sale slip fully paid, the withdrawal authorization, and his ID. If the sale slip hasn't been fully paidthis person has to do it at the auction house, in cash up to €1000 with fees or by credit card.
  • You pick up your property in person.
    Lots may be collected, upon presentation of a fully paid slip, from the auction house during normal opening hours, or, if applicable, from another sales location. To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to find out where the item is being stored by contacting us beforehand.
  • You mandate the person of your choice to pick up your property. In this case, you must :
    1. Inform the auction house by filling in a withdrawal authorization by a third party.
    2. This person must present a copy of the receipted slip, the withdrawal authorization, and his identity document. If the sale slip hasn't been fully paid, she will have to pay it on the spot in cash - up to 1000 euros including fees - or by credit card.

    To avoid any inconvenience, it is advisable to find out where the item will be stored by contacting us beforehand.

  • You want to call a carrier.
    You are free to use the carrier of your choice. If you do not know of a transport company, we can give you the contact details of a professional. In all cases you must:
  1. Inform the auction house by filling in a withdrawal authorization goods by a third party
  2. Transmit to the carrier copy of your receipted slip
  3. To avoid any inconvenience, it is advisable to find out where the item will be stored by contacting us beforehand.

Unless otherwise specified, the property is sent in good condition. The auction house is not liable for any loss or damage. The cost of the transport is the responsability of the purchaser.

  • I wish my purchases to be sent by post.
    It will be perceived a A price for packaging and shipping amounting to between 5 and 20 euros depending on the weight and volume of the item. Unless otherwise stated, the item is presumed to have been sent to you in good condition, the auction house not being responsible in the event of breakage. The costs and the responsibility of the transport belong to the purchaser. If shipping by post, please contact us for a quote. The auctioneer reserves the right to refuse packaging services if they consider them too delicate given the nature of the item. Since shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer, please contact us to find out if the item you wish to purchase can be shipped.

Definitions

The auctioneer conducts the auction.

There are two auction types :

  • Voluntary auctions : an owner provides freely items. The voluntary auction is organized in accordance with the provisions of the French Civil Code (laws of July 10, 2000 and July 20, 2011,art. L. 321-1 to L. 321-38 of the French Commercial Code). The fees are applied in addition to the hammer price. They are generally set at 20% pre-tax, i.e 24% after tax.Upcoming Voluntary Sales.
  • The judicial sales : a judicial sale is provided for by a law or regulation, or can be authorized by a judge. Fees in addition to the hammer price are set at 12% pre-tax, i.e 14.40% after tax.Upcoming judicial sales.
 

A sale can be described as an auction when anybody is free to participate, under the sole condition of his solvency.

Everybody is able to hear all the offers made, and can thus outbid. The object presented is won by the highest bidder.

Any bid has to be equal to or higher than the starting price, or must be higher than the one proposed by a competitor for the purchase of the thing.

The amount of every bid is repeated out loud by the auctioneer so that every bidder can hear it.

This way, auctions are an objective and automatic mode of designation of a price and a purchaser.

The purchase order corresponds to a specific maximum amount in euros up to which the auctioneer is mandated to buy the item. The auctioneer buys the item on behalf of his client, in accordance with the instructions of the purchase order form. The auctioneer aims to purchase the item at the lowest possible price and still under the maximum price his client has set.

 

How to bid ?

The auctions being "public", they are open to anyone who can bid, i.e to any creditworthy person.

The place where the sale takes place is public. The auctioneer ensures the free access to the sale.

The restrictions to participate in an auction are those of common law : non-emancipated minors, protected adults, people under the influence of alcohol.

The auctioneer may subject the participation to a prior registration and the presentation of a guarantee of payment, these conditions being objective, non-discriminatory and appropriate.

The price is shouted. The sale is conducted in French and bids are made in euros. The auctioneer conducts the operations. He designates the item for sale and announces a starting price. People start bidding. When it turns out that no one is willing to offer a higher price, the item is won. The lot is sold and the sale is over when the auctioneer blows the hammer and says 'Adjugé'.

It is possible to bid by raising your hand, the sign being immediately translated into figures by the auctioneer, who announces it orally.

If you can't attend the saleit is possible to place an absentee bid. You have to fill in a purchase order form with the highest amount you are willing to pay for the artwork..
Once your form is registered, you will receive a confirmation by email.

If you can't attend the saleit is possible to place an absentee bid. You have to fill in a purchase order form with the highest amount you are willing to pay for the artwork..

Once your purchase order is registered, you will have the confirmation by email. You may be required to provide a piece of identification for the buyer as well as his bank details.
For some objects of exceptional character and/or value, a guarantee deposit may be required.

If the purchase order is made on behalf of a legal entity such as a company, you may be required to provide a Kbis extract and the ID of the manager mentioned in this document.

If the auctioneer receives several orders for identical amounts on the same lot and if, at the auction, these orders represent the highest bids, it will be awarded to the bidder whose order has been received first. .

No purchase order lower than the low estimate is accepted.

Full contact details must be provided in the form.

If the purchase order has been completed, the bill of sale summarizing the designation of the objects purchased, the amount awarded and the total amount with the fees will be sent no later than 24 hours after the sale (excluding non-working days).

The sending is done to the email filled during the request or, in the absence of it, by postal way.

it is possible to place bids by telephone.

Bidding by telephone lets you take part in the auction without having to be present in the auction room. If you would like to do this you will need to book yourself in as a telephone bidder in advance. Places are available on a first-come-first-served basis. You will also need to fill in a telephone bid form, providing proof of identity and residence and a contact telephone. is the one by which the person asks to be called on the phone during the auction, to make a live auction. To do this, simply fill in a Telephone bid form.

Once your request is registered, you will have the confirmation by email or telephone. You may be required to provide an ID as well as bank details.
For some objects of exceptional character and/or value, a guarantee deposit may be required.

If the purchase order is made on behalf of a legal entity such as a company, you may be required to provide a Kbis extract and the ID of the manager mentioned in this document.

Please note that this is a free service provided by the Auction House that can not be held responsible in case of late request or defective telephone link or in case of any error made in telephone contact.

No telephone bid form for objects whose low estimate is lower than 200 euros is accepted.

 

If you want to bid on the internet, the Auction House Labarbe uses the platform Interencheres Live. Live sales are broadcast on https://www.interencheres-live.com/. They bring two new services:

  • of the live auctions it allows to remotely participate in a real-time auction. From your computer, you can follow the auction fire and the auctioneer's comments during the sale (with sound and video). At any time and with a single click, you can bid as if you were in the room on the lots you want.
  • of the secret purchase orders : interencheres-live.com offers a service of secret purchase orders. Secret purchase orders are automatically executed and computerized. Their maximum amounts are not disclosed to the auctioneer. The bidders benefit from the guarantee of a purchase at the fairest price if they win the auction.

If you want to participate in an auction live or deposit a secret purchase order, kindly note that you have to register BEFORE the sale on interencheres-live.com.

Taxes are alway included in the hammer price, but the selling fees are not. Selling fees are a percentage calculated on the total amount of the sales bill. They can cary from one sale to another.

If you bid on the internet, an additional 3-percent fee applies. It pays the subcontractor responsible for organizing the auction live.

The payment of any item is due immediately. spot.

You can pay cashcash in the limit of €1000 with fees for French citizens and up to €15,000 with fees for anybody whose tax domicile is abroad.

The payment can also be made by credit card when the place of the sale allows it. 4% additional fees are charged to purchasers holding foreign cards.

If you bids were placed remotely, payment must be made upon receipt of the sales slip. You can pay by making an appointment with our accounting department, or use a bank transfer. Please contact us to retrieve our bank details.

For purchases made via the platform interencheres-live.com, the total amount can be debited from the credit card you've used for the registration.

How to pick up your purchase ?

  • I'm leaving with my goods on the same day.
    The staff will give me my goods on presentation of my sale slip (my invoice) fully paid.
  • I can not immediately take away my goods.
    Exceptionally, the Labarbe House can give you 72 hours to pick up your items. You should find out the place of storage of your object by contacting us beforehand. We will give you your good on presentation of my sale slip (my invoice) fully paid.
  • You can also mandate the person of your choice to pick up your property. In this case, you have to :
  1. fill out and send it to the Auction House a withdrawal authorization of the goods by a third person.
  2. This third person must present a copy of the sale slip fully paid, the withdrawal authorization, and his ID. If the sale slip hasn't been fully paidthis person has to do it at the auction house, in cash up to €1000 with fees or by credit card.
  • You pick up your property in person.
    On presentation of a sale slip fully paid, the goods can be withdrawn at the auction house. during opening hours, or when appropriate, at another place of sale. You should find out where your good is stored by contacting us beforehand.
  • You mandate the person of your choice to pick up your property. In this case, you must :
    1. Inform us by filling in a withdrawal authorization by a third party.
    2. This person must present the copy of the fully paid slip sale, the withdrawal authorization, and an ID. If the sale slip hasn't been fully paidthis person has to do it at the auction house, in cash up to €1000 with fees or by credit card.

    You should first find out where your good is stored by contacting us beforehand.

  • You want to call a carrier.
    You are free to call the carrier of your choice. If you don't know any transport company, the auction house can give you the details of a professional. In any case, you must :
  1. Inform us by filling in a withdrawal authorization of the goods by a third person.
  2. Transmit to the carrier a copy of my fully paid sale slip.
  3. You should first find out where your good is stored by contacting us beforehand.

Unless otherwise specified, the property is sent in good condition. The auction house is not liable for any loss or damage. The cost of the transport is the responsability of the purchaser.

  • I wish my purchases to be sent by post.
    It will be perceived a A price for packaging and shipping is required. It changes from 5 to €20 depending on the weight and volume of the property. Unless otherwise specified, the property is sent in good condition. The auction house is not liable for any loss or damage. The costs and the responsibility of the transport belong to the purchaser. In case of a postal sending, please contact us so that we can give you a quote. The auction House can refuse the packaging service if it seems to be too risky, given the nature of the object. The transport being carried out under the full responsibility of the buyer, please contact us to know if the good you want to acquire can be dispatched.