FAQs
1. Where can I buy the Auction Catalogue?
The Auction Catalogue for upcoming auctions may be purchased directly from the website as soon as an auction has been announced. Buy Catalogue links have been provided on the Home page of the website and About the Auction page.
Users wishing to purchase the catalogue can also contact Atting House Limited on (852) 3441 8088, or by fax at (852) 3441 8089, or by email sales@attinghouse.com
Users may also buy catalogues from past auctions by accessing the Auction Archives section (coming soon…).
2. Tell me about Atting House?
Launched in January 2007, Atting House is the first internet auction company of fine art in China, based in Hong Kong. In the spirit of this age of information, we look forward to providing artists and collectors with a new platform of exhibition and exchange, to help them keep abreast of rapid developments in the art world.
For the art collector, we have created a platform of straightforward, instant access with a wide spectrum of artworks. Artworks may be viewed online from the comfort of anywhere with internet access, at any time.
Seasonal auctions will feature thematic art collections from throughout Asia. Each event will be accompanied by several weeks of proper exhibition at our Hong Kong exhibition hall. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet artists at each event, as well as experience the online system on our computer terminals.
An independent, experienced curator of professional repute will choose the artists and create the exhibition for each auction. This professional approach with academic criteria ensures the exhibition to be a collection of artworks with substantial quality. The exhibitions engage current artistic discourse and bring Hong Kong into the arena of creative activity in Greater China and Asia at large.
Purchase online is quick and easy. Live auctions takes place over two days for each collection. All the buyer needs do is pre-register online at Atting House’s website, view the collection, then log on to participate in an international market of artworks in real time, from the comfort of your home.
Detailed auction catalogues and collectors’ art books for each exhibition will be available for purchase.
3. How can I bid on a lot?
Only a registered bidder can bid for a Lot. The bidder may click on the "Bid Now" button placed in either the Auction Gallery or My Interests or My Bids or Instant Analysis pages. The bidder may choose to bid for a Lot on the next valid bid amount shown on the screen or by entering an amount higher than the next valid bid or by placing an ‘Auto Bid’. The Bidder will be shown My Bid Space to exercise either option before the bid is submitted.
Regular bidding may be done by bidding the next valid bid, which is the current valid bid plus the Bid Increments as shown in the auction page. Bidder may enter exactly the amount of the next valid bid or a higher value. Bidder may also view the entire Bid history prior to making a decision. After placing such bid, the bid shall be recorded and viewable in the Bid History page and in the “My Bids” page. Please note that bidders may be contacted during the auction for bid verification in order to protect all bidders and to maintain the efficacy of the process.
All users of the website can see the online demo to see the various features of the site that can be used to bid in the auction
4. What is a Written Bid?
A registered and accredited bidder may utilise the Written Bid facility. A Written Bid Form is attached at the back of the Auction Catalogue or downloadable from “About the Auction” on the website. This form may only be used by a bidder who does not have access to bidding at the time of auction. Acceptance of such Written Bids by AHL is subject to the fulfilment of the Bid Limits for that bidder as given under Terms & Conditions. The bidder must submit a signed Written Bid Form for one or more Lots to AHL by fax at (852) 3441 8089 at any time prior to the scheduled Auction Start Time or definitely no less than six hours before the Closing Time of the Auction.
Written bids received from different bidders of the same value will be prioritised based on the time of receiving the form on a “first come first served” basis. A valid written bid will be accorded priority over entering a regular online bid for the opening bid value. AHL shall keep all Written Bid Forms received for record and in the event of a dispute, the records possessed by AHL shall prevail over all other copies presented by bidders. AHL shall have the sole discretion and shall not be responsible for any delay or failure to record such bids.
A : If the Written Bid submitted prior to the scheduled Auction Start Time is less than the opening bid value, it will not be accepted as a valid bid and will not be recorded. The person submitting the Written Bid will be informed.
B : If the Written Bid submitted prior to the scheduled Auction Start Time is higher than the opening bid value, such bid will be accepted as a valid bid .
C : If the Written Bid submitted no less than six hours prior to Auction Closing Time is equal to or higher than the Current Highest Bid, such bid will be accepted as a valid bid.
D : Written Bids received at the same value will be prioritised based on the time of receiving the bids on a “first come first served” basis and will be shown in the Bid History of the lot, after the start of the Auction.
5. How do I know if the Lots are authentic?
AHL provides a guarantee on behalf of the Seller that the Lot offered for Auction on the web site is an authentic work of the artist listed. If AHL sells an item which is subsequently proved to be not authentic according to the procedures set forth as below, subject to the Terms and Conditions, AHL shall rescind the sale and hold the Seller to be liable to refund the Winning Bidder the amount paid to AHL for the Lot.
The Lot is deemed inauthentic when, to the reasonable satisfaction of AHL, it is proved significantly inconsistent with the description of the Lot as set out in the Auction Catalogue or web site, or is an imitation created to deceive as to authorship, origin, date, age, period, culture or source, or is where the correct description of such matters is not reflected by the description in the Auction Catalogue.
A Lot shall not be considered as inauthentic and this Guarantee shall not apply in the event that:
a) such above mentioned situations arising only out of any damage and/or restoration and/or modification work of any kind (including repainting or over-painting).
b)the Auction Catalogue description was in accordance with the generally accepted opinions of scholars and experts at the date of the auction, or the Auction Catalogue description indicated the opposite of such opinions.
c) the only method of establishing at the date of the auction that the Lot was inauthentic would have been by means of processes not then generally available or accepted, unreasonably expensive or impractical to use; or likely to have caused damage or loss of value to the Lot.
Such Guarantee is provided for a period of one (1) year after the closing date of the relevant auction. The Winning Bidder must act in accordance to initiate the claim for inauthenticity:
a) Only the actual Winning Bidder (as registered with AHL) can make the claim; the benefit of the claim is not assignable to any subsequent owners or others who may acquire or have an interest in any of the Lot.
b) The Winning Bidder shall notify AHL in writing within three (3) months of receiving any information that cause the Winning Bidder to claim against the authenticity of the Lot, specifying the Lot number, date of the auction at which it was purchased and the reasons why it is thought to be inauthentic.
c) To return the Lot to AHL in the same condition as at the date of auction to the Winning Bidder, and be able to transfer good title of the Lot, free from any third party claims arising after the date of the auction.
AHL shall have the rights to waive any of the above-mentioned requirements and may require the Winning Bidder to obtain at their own expense the reports of two leading scholars and experts in the field for reference. AHL shall not be bound by any reports or opinions produced therefrom, and reserve the right to seek additional expert advice at the Winning Bidder’s expense.
Once the claim for inauthenticity is established and successfully accepted by AHL, the Wining Bidder shall return the Lot to AHL and the Seller shall be subject to such claim. The Seller shall refund the Winning Bidder the amount paid for the Lot and the Lot shall return to the Seller. AHL shall have the discretion to charge the Seller and the Winning Bidder for any costs arising in handling the claim.
6. What is an opening bid and Reserve price of a Lot?
Bidding for all Lots begins at the opening bid value. The opening bid is the value set by AHL for every particular Lot in the Auction. The first bid for a Lot in the auction will be accepted as normal for regular bidding.
All Lots in AHL’s Auction are subject to a Reserve price, as explained in the Terms and Conditions. Reserve Price means the minimum price that the Seller has communicated to AHL in writing as being acceptable for the sale of the Lot through Auction.
7. In what currencies can I place my bid?
All Auctions held by AHL Website shall be recorded in US Dollars (USD) or Hong Kong Dollars (HKD). Bidders in Hong Kong may pay in HKD/USD. Bidders from the rest of the world must pay in USD. The bidder shall be held liable for any possible breach of foreign exchange regulations outside Hong Kong court’s jurisdiction. The exchange rate between USD and HKD will be as follows: 1US$=7.8HK$
8. What is the Buyer’s premium?
AHL shall be entitled to the Buyer’s Premium for the sale of any Lot as stated in the Terms and Conditions. Buyer's Premium is the commission payable by the Buyer on the accepted Bid Price at the rates set out in the Terms & Conditions provided by AHL to prospective Buyers. In addition to the Bid Price, the Winning Bidder agrees to pay to AHL the Buyer’s Premium together with any applicable taxes and charges. The Buyer’s Premium is 10% of the Bid Price on each lot.
9. What is the process after I have won the bid?
Once the Buyer has won the Lot in the auction, the Buyer will be informed by email from AHL immediately upon close of the auction. Buyer shall receive a subsequent email from finance@attinghouse.com, which will contain an invoice and any relevant information for the winning bid (with payment methods specified in it). The Buyer must pay the full amount due (comprising the Purchase Price, Expenses and any applicable taxes) within seven days of close of the auction. The Buyer shall collect purchased Lots within fourteen days from the date of auction unless otherwise agreed between AHL and the Buyer. Buyer may review acceptable modes of payment described in the section below. Buyer is legally bound to purchase the Lot from AHL once the Auction ended on the web site.
10. What are the shipping and insurance charges?
All levies, duties and taxes applicable on the purchase of the Lot shall be borne by the Winning Bidder. Sales that take place within Hong Kong are not subject to any sales tax. Depending on the shipping destination and according to local customs regulations, other levies, sales tax, duties and VAT may be applicable on the Lot’s Winning Bid value. The Winning Bidder shall be responsible for any documentation arising from such delivery of the Lot.
11. How do I make a payment?
Immediately following the close of auction, the Winning Bidder must pay the full amount due (comprising the Purchase Price, Expenses and any applicable taxes) within seven days of close of the auction. This applies even if the Winning Bidder wishes to export the lot and an export license is required. The Winning Bidder will not acquire title to the Lot until all amounts due to AHL in good cleared funds are received by AHL.
Buyers will be required to complete payment in full and good cleared funds within a period of seven days from the receipt of the invoice from AHL via email.
International Payments
USD checks
Make checks payable to: Atting House Limited
and send them to : Atting House Limited
18/F, Corporation Square,
8 Lam Lok Street,
Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
Wire Transfer : Details available upon request. Please call AHL on (852) 3441 8088 or by email on finance@attinghouse.com
Demand Draft or cheque:
To be made in favour of Atting House Limited
Place: Hong Kong
Send the draft/cheque to : Atting House Limited
18/F, Corporation Square,
8 Lam Lok Street,
Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
12. How do I use Advanced Search to search for artwork?
The advanced search facility is provided to users to search for specific Lots having selected properties. Users choose one or more combinations to narrow down their search among the hundreds of Lots listed on the website. Search options include:
Art Type – Select from Painting, Photography, Sculpture or Video
Artist – Select from the list of artists
Category – Select period and genre
Medium – Select from oil, ink, watercolour, etc.
Surface – Select from paper, canvas, silver, bronze etc
Price Range – Enter desired price range in either USD or HKD
Year of Lot – Search by year in which the art was created
Dimensions – Enter desired dimensions in inches or centimetres
Lot sold/unsold status – Search for Lots that are available for sale or have already been sold.
13. How do I use Search?
The search facility is provided to users on all pages of the website to search for specific Lots by choosing either one or a combination of Art Name, Artist Name or Lot number.
14. How can I find out information on past auctions?
Information on all the past auctions will be available in the Auction Archives section (coming soon…).
15. How can I find the results of an Auction?
Results of a recently concluded auction can be seen by clicking on Auction Results on Home page. Auction Summary, Auction Results and Auction Analysis are available for each auction in the Auction Archives section.
16. What do I get in My Account?
Registered Members of the website may access their personal profile with Atting House Limited in My Account area. This is where the members may choose to amend their personal information relating to their account with Atting House Limited. Members may save their favourite Lots and favourite artists in My Art and My Artist sections respectively by clicking on Add to My In. My Orders section shows the order details of Lots they purchased through the website in chronological order. My Bid History keeps track of their bids in an auction.
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