How to Buy at Auction

At Lyon & Turnbull we want to make buying at auction, either in the saleroom or online, as easy and enjoyable as possible. Our specialists and client services teams are available across a wide range of locations including Edinburgh, Glasgow and London so whatever your interest or query we can always help.

We are proud to offer regular specialist auctions throughout the year; from jewellery to fine art, Scottish paintings to rare books. Whether you are a first time auction buyer, or a regular customer of Lyon & Turnbull, we offer a series of handy tools to hep make buying at auction easy.

Our 'favourites' functionality allows you to keep a wishlist of forthcoming auctions or lots that can be easily reviewed in the account section of our website. Additionally, our recently relaunched lot alert service will notify you by email should any item matching your chosen criteria be on offer within one of our forthcoming auctions. If you have any difficulty accessing these features, our team are on hand to assist by email or by calling 0131 557 8844.

Find out more about buying at auction with Lyon & Turnbull below.

Browse Our Auctions

Browse & bid in our forthcoming auctions and find out more information about viewing details.

Add a Lot Alert

Try our lot alert service. If a forthcoming lot matches your search criteria you'll get an email with the lot details.

ONLINE | IN PERSON | BY PHONE

How to Bid

Enjoy all the excitement of a Lyon & Turnbull auction in Edinburgh and London whether bidding online, via phone, in person or through one of our specialist team.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I buy items at auction?

This guide should offer all you need to know about buying at auction including buying in person, online, by phone or in your absence. For information not covered here, please contact us by email or phone.

How do I register to bid?

You can register to bid in many ways and at any time before the auction; however we suggest you allow plenty of time to register to secure your bids. The few hours prior to an auction are often very busy and clients will be registered on a first-come-first-served basis. As a new customer, you can register online, in person, by phone or mail. Please note: first time bidders will be asked for two forms of ID in order to increase your bid amount level.

What types of ID do you accept?

We require two forms of ID which can include: a Government issued photo ID (passport/ driving licence) and a proof of address (utility bill/ bank statement). You may upload these documents to your account, present them in person at our saleroom or at one of our office locations or, if registering for a telephone or absentee bid, email copies to us at info@lyonandturnbull.com

Where can I find the Conditions of Sale?

Our Conditions of Sale can be found at the foot of this page.

How do I pay for a lot I have won?

There are number of ways to pay to make it as easy as possible for you. You can keep track of any invoices or settlements in your account section. We accept bank transfer, credit or debit card and, on some occasions, cash. All items must be paid for before they can be collected. Remember your final invoice will include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium of 26% of the hammer price of each lot up to and including £20,000 / 25% from £20,001 up to and including £500,000 / 20% from £500,001 and thereafter, plus VAT on the buyer's premium. If there is a dagger (†), double-dagger (‡), omega [Ω] or section mark (§) next to your lot number in the catalogue, your lot will be subject to additional VAT or Droit de Suite charges. See our Conditions of Sale for further details, or the auction information at the start of the printed or online catalogues.

How do I collect my auction items?

Our saleroom teams are always on-hand to help with collections and shipping for purchased lots. View our shipping information at the foot of this page for more information or alternatively contact a local branch for more information.

What are the benefits of an online L&T account?

From setting sale reminders to bidding from the comfort of home, a Lyon & Turnbull online account brings all the action of saleday to your front door. Registering takes minutes. To begin, click Create Account at the top right of our website.

ONLINE

L&T Live: Our Live Bidding Platform

Our easy-to-use, secure platform is designed to bring all the excitement of an in-person sale to you at home or on the move. It’s easy to register with us online, you can watch the auction as it happens and place bids from the comfort of your desktop or mobile device.

IN PERSON

Bid In Person

Join us in Edinburgh at our historic New Town saleroom or in London at the prestigious Mall Galleries on The Mall to bid in person.

Bidding at either location in person offers you a chance to meet our specialist auction team and be part of the action. Buying at auction is simple. Raise your paddle when there is a particular lot you are interested in. The auctioneer will take competing bids from people in the room, from telephone bidders or online, until a final price is "won" indicated by the gavel being hit and the auctioneer announcing the hammer price.

BY PHONE

Bid By Phone

If you would like to bid by telephone, please contact our team prior to the auction to provide details of the lots you are interested in and your contact information.

On auction day, your designated clerk will call you just before your lot(s) come up. They will then relay the action in the room to you and your bids to the auctioneer. This means that no matter where you are in the world, you still have chance to feel part of auction day.

Shipping & Collections

You May Be Interested In....

AUCTION CALENDAR

Forthcoming Auctions

Browse all the latest auctions at Lyon & Turnbull

Imported Lots

Find out more about rules and regulations surrounding imported lots