Buying at MaisonBibelot

MAISON BIBELOT Srl acts as an agent with representation of those, the Principals,which deliver works for the auction or by private treaty. The effects of the sale directly affect Seller-Principal and the Buyer, without taking other liability on the part of MAISON BIBELOT Srl other than pursuant to the mandate received.

The MAISON BIBELOT Srl assumes against the Sellers and Buyers-Principals only the responsibilities arising from that capacity.



Information for Buyers - General Conditions of Sale

1. Bidder Registration

To buy at auction you must register your personal details (valid identity document, social security number and bank references) before the sale, in the days of exhibition or through the website www.maisonbibelot.com. By registering, the purchaser expressly declares under its own responsibility to have read the General Conditions of Sale of MAISON BIBELOT Srl and to have them fully accepted. Sales shall be awarded to the highest bidder and are for cash. Participation in the auction is personal. The payer must be the successful tenderer. The possible participation in the name and on behalf of third parties must be expressly authorized in writing by MAISON BIBELOT Srl, which may for that purpose require the filing of a certified proxy and appropriate bank reference.

2. Goods subject to sale

The goods object of the auction or private treaty will rarely be, because of their own nature and their antiquity, in a perfect condition and may have signs of wear, defects, other defects, restorations or repairs. The Buyer of such goods is aware that they are used goods and therefore can present flaws described above and may be the subject of the actions described above. We always recommend the direct view of the work in order to determine characteristics, the actual state, the state of preservation, the size, the quality, the authenticity, attribution and provenance of the works. In the case of lots of special value, we suggest you to benefit from the advice of a restorer or a trusted adviser before making an offer. Buyers assume responsibility for their own choices and accept the eventual interventions and defects that, at the time of conclusion of the contract were known or readily recognizable, or that you could not ignore with due diligence. Authenticity, attribution and provenance of lots on sale are declared by the Principal-Seller, who assumes responsibility for the statements. MAISON BIBELOT Srl does not carry out checks and controls in this regard.

3. Pre-auction Viewing

The auction is preceded by several days of exhibition during which the Sales Director and experts of MAISON BIBELOT Srl will be available to Customers for any information about the lots in auction, and to provide a condition report of a particular lot. All statements by us in the catalogue entry for the property or in the condition report, or made orally or in writing elsewhere, are statements of opinion and are not to be relied on as statements of fact. Such statements do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by us of any kind. Any statement regarding author, attribution, date, origin, provenance and conditions is an opinion and not a fact. The exhibition aims to take full, complete and thorough understanding of the characteristics of the state of use, the state of preservation, the actual size and in general of all the quality of the works, including the authenticity, attribution and origin. As already described in paragraph no. 2 of the above document, lots rarely
found in a perfect state: and that by their very nature, since they are used goods. It follows the importance of participation in the exhibition and the importance of a careful and conscious vision of the lots during the exhibition days. For this reason, in order to allow conscious purchases, MAISON BIBELOT Srl recommends potential Buyers to view lots personally or to have them inspected by third parties - at their own expense - during the days of exhibition.

4. Descriptions in the catalogue

The images, drawings, descriptions and definitions of individual lots contained in the catalogue are purely indicative and constitute mere expression of opinion. The same statements are not science and therefore cannot generate any kind of custody or take the collateral value. References to the conditions of the works contained in the catalogue may not be complete and exhaustive description of the state of the same. Any statement regarding the author, the work attribution, date, origin, provenance and condition is an opinion and not a fact. In the description of the lots, the experts of MAISON BIBELOT Srl assess the state of conservation in accordance with the object estimate and the auction nature in which it is inserted. Any statement on the physical nature of the lot and its conditions in the catalogue, in the condition report or elsewhere is done with honesty and attention but is not science statements: any statement regarding the author, the work attribution, date, origin, provenance and conditions is an opinion and not a fact.

5. Absentee Bids

MAISON BIBELOT Srl accepts written offers and reservations for telephone participation by those who cannot be physically in the auction room. To access this mode of purchase is necessary to register at the offices of MAISON BIBELOT Srl releasing their personal details, a photocopy of a photo ID, social security number and bank references. The lots will be purchased at the lowest possible price on the basis of other offers on the same lots and reserve prices recorded by MAISON BIBELOT Srl. In the event of equal amount bids, the first one placed will have the priority. The offers are accepted within 6 pm of the day before the sale. Only verbal communications will not be considered valid. MAISON BIBELOT S.r.l reserves the right to not accept telephone bids only for lots with less than € 100.00 assessment. Even if Buyers cannot be present during the sale, it is understood that the objects were carefully inspected during the days of exhibition. Please read carefully
paragraphs no. 2 - 3 - 4. MAISON BIBELOT Srl will not be liable for errors or failuresin executing absentee bids.

6. Auctioneer

During the auction, the auctioneer, director of sales, has the right to join or separate, or change the order of the lots. If any complaint arises between two or more bidders, the disputed lot may be put up for sale again in the same session on the basis of the last accepted bid at the discretion of the auctioneer.

7. Hammer Price

The hammer price is the price at which the lot is awarded at auction by the auctioneer to the purchaser or, in the case of private sale, the price agreed between MAISON BIBELOT Srl and the Buyer, net of auction fee and VAT.

8. Buyer’s Premium

In addition to the hammer price the Buyer has to pay an auction fee, for each lot, 27% of the hammer price up to € 100,000.00 and 22% from 100,001.00 and over, inclusive of VAT and income taxes. For motor vehicles the auction commission will be 15% on the hammer price, inclusive of VAT and income tax expenses (see paragraph 9).

9. Value added tax

The VAT payable by the Buyer is 22% on net auction fees. Therefore, the final price consists of award amount and an overall percentage of 22% or 15% depending on the types of lots (see paragraph no. 8).

10. Online Auctions

General Conditions of Sale are valid also for this kind of sale, but registration must be made through the website of MAISON BIBELOT Srl starting from the day on which the auction begins. Our online auctions, being preceded by viewing, are not subject to the right of withdrawal (Art. 15 Legislative Decree n. 185 of 22/05/99). The offices of MAISON BIBELOT Srl are available to Customers, for clarification and information. The Buyer is obliged to make payment of purchases within the indicated deadline.

11. Transfer of ownership

Ownership is transferred to the Buyer at the time of award. When prescribed by the relevant regulations, burden and costs are borne by the Buyer, in order to have the change of ownership (perfecting) recorded in public register.

12. Payment

Payment can be made:
(a) in cash up to € 2,999.99
(b) in agreement with MAISON BIBELOT Srl, bank draft or bank check subject to verification with the Institute emission payable to MAISON BIBELOT S.r.l .
(c) Debit or credit cards
(d) by bank transfer to Intesa Sanpaolo SpA – P.ze della Porta al Prato Firenze - IT91J0306902992100000005683 IBAN - BIC: BCITITMM  SWIFT: BCITITMMXXX
If payment is made in cash, by check, by credit card, the goods acquired are immediately made available to the Buyer; in all other cases they will be made available to the Buyer after the verification of successful completion of the payment. Should the successful Bidder fail to pay entirely within the terms established in this article, MAISON BIBELOT Srl can demand completion or termination of the contract, after notice to comply; in any case the damages and the payment of the auction fee and any expenses already incurred will be enforced.

13. Collection of purchased lots

Unless otherwise stated, collection will be possible upon payment at the offices of MAISON BIBELOT Srl. Should the payment fail, MAISON BIBELOT Srl It has the right to refuse delivery. Cost of packing, transport and insurance are borne by the Buyer. On request,
MAISON BIBELOT Srl may suggest the name of a transporter, but this shall not imply any responsibility for MAISON BIBELOT Srl. For lots not removed within the period established MAISON BIBELOT Srl reserves the right to transfer them at the expense and risk of the successful tenderer at a warehouse of its choice.

14. Export Permits

Export of objects more than 50 years old is subject to the release of a Certificate of Free Circulation from the competent Authority. Maison Bibelot does not take any responsibility towards the purchaser as for any possible export restriction of the objects knocked down, nor concerning any possible license or certificate to be obtained according to the Italian law. Should the above-mentioned authorisation not be granted the Purchase of the lot/s is not nullified, neither is the payment of the lot/s, unless prior agreement with Maison Bibelot was made before the auction. For goods possibly subjected to notification from the Italian State, in accordance to the Legislative Decree no. 42 of 22 January 2004 (Code of the Cultural and Landscape Heritage) and following changes, Buyers are beholden by law to observe all existing legislative dispositions on the matter and, in case the State exercises its pre-emptive right, cannot expect from Maison Bibelot or the Vendor any reimbursement or eventual interest on commission on the knock down price already paid. The export of lots by the buyers, both resident and not resident in Italy, is regulated by the above mentioned law and the other custom, financial and tax rules in force. The export outside the European Community is subject to the rules provided by the EEC Regulation no. 391/92 of 9 December 1992, as amended by Regulation EEC no. 2469/96 of 16 December 1996 and the EEC Regulation no. 974/01 of 14 May 2001.
After the sale, we recommend buyers to contact our Client Service with the purchase in order to obtain the quotation for the shipping and exportation papers. For further information please contact segreteria@maisonbibelot.com.

14. Complaints

Buyers' complaints must be filed in writing by registered mail a/r addressed to MAISON BIBELOT Srl Florence Italy Corso Italia n. 6 within and not later than eight days from the auction date, and will be examined by an expert appointed by MAISON BIBELOT Srl. Should the complaint be accepted, MAISON BIBELOT Srl will return to the Buyer only and exclusively the sum actually paid by him.

15. Disputes

In the event of litigation, all controversies concerning the sales activity at MAISON BIBELOT are regulated by the Court of Florence, except for the case where the rules are applicable pursuant to Legislative Decree no. 206/2005 (Consumer Code).



Meneanings of terms used in our catalogues

Terminologies and their explanations by the library catalogue and below are reported are purely indicative and constitute simple expression of opinion. The same statements are not science and cannot generate any kind of custody or of liability. The Buyer is therefore aware of being required to ensure and to verify - personally and/or through third party experts of his choice at his own expense - the lots and, in particular, their authenticity, attribution, provenance, size, texture , quality, features, state of use and conservation.

NAME of the ARTIST according to us, a possible work of the artist mentioned
ASCRIBED TO we think that it could be a work of the artist mentioned, completely or partially;
WORKSHOP OF/SCHOOL OF according to us, the work was made by an unknown person working in the workshop of the mentioned artist, which can have been created under the direction or not of the artist or in the years following his death;
CIRCLE OF according to us, the work was created by an unknown hand, not necessarily a disciple of the mentioned artist;
DISCIPLE OF according to us, the work was created by an author working with the same style of the mentioned artist;
STYLE OF / MANNER OF according to us, the work was created in the style of the mentioned artist but in a following period;
FROM it seems a copy of a well-known work by the mentioned artist, but with an imprecise date;
SIGNED/DATED according to us, the work seems signed and dated by the artist who made it;
“signature and/or date inscribed”: it seems that these data were added by hand or in a period.
GOLD 18 kt gold (750/1000) if not differently specified
SILVER 800/1000 silver if not differently specified