Selling Guide

Thinking of Selling?

We give you the answers to help you make an informed decision

 

Whether you are selling a single item or an entire estate, Morphets provide a comprehensive auction service and will advise and guide you on all aspects of the sale process from free confidential appraisals to collection, sale and payment.
Morphets' auctions are held in our central Harrogate saleroom and are sold live on the internet in real time offering buyers the facility to bid from their computer or tablet wherever they may be. Buyers across the UK and abroad are notified of items coming up for sale via international auction platforms and our own extensive emailing lists. As well as our many regular buyers we attract interest around the world by utilising media advertising, press releases, social media marketing and online illustrated catalogues on three platforms.

Types of Sale

Types of Sale - Home and Garden_The Home and Garden Sale
Monthly auctions of period to contemporary furniture and decorative items for the home and garden.

 

 

 

Types of Sale - Fine ArtFine Art and Antique Auctions
Quarterly sales of paintings, watercolours and drawings, antiques and works of art, ceramics, clocks, maps, prints and books, Asian ceramics and works of art, silver and objects of virtue, jewellery and watches, period furniture and Yorkshire carvers.

 

 

Types of Sale - Jewellery_Jewellery, Watches and Silver
Notable jewellery, watches and silver are featured in our Fine Art and Antique sales; but we also have a good selection on offer in our Home and Garden sales.

 

 

Types of Sale - Modern BritisModern British and 20th Century Art
Held twice a year these sales feature a wide selection of paintings, works on paper, sculpture, ceramics and glass reflecting the many innovations and changes experienced in the 20th century, with pieces dating from the 1930s, the post war years and through to contemporary works.

 

 

Types of Sale - D for Design_D for Design
Specialist sales held twice yearly with the focus on mid-century and post war design in furniture, decorative arts, paintings and prints but also including contemporary design and one-off pieces.

 

 

Types of Sale - Wine_Fine Wines, Vintage Port and Spirits
Held in late spring and in time for the Christmas festivities these sales are curated by Peter Carr, who has the prestigious and world renown qualification of Master of Wine; there are currently only 460 Masters of Wine worldwide!

 

 

Types of Sale - Costume_Vintage Costume and Textiles
Held twice a year these include haute couture to Carnaby Street fashion, textiles, luggage, haberdashery, boudoir and related items.

 

 

Types of Sale - Collectors_Collectors' Sales
These sales are held twice a year and offer a specialist marketplace for all types of collectable items including toys, militaria, coins, stamps, vintage audio equipment and vinyl, cameras and scientific instruments, advertising and packaging, pens, sporting memorabilia, posters, railway related and other collecting fields.

 

House Clearance and Downsizing

From a cottage to a castle, Morphets can assist with all aspects of clearing a property

 

18TO - Copy_You may be acting as executor for family or a friend or have the task of clearing a house for a relative who is moving into residential care. Alternatively, you may be downsizing and unable to accommodate everything in your new home.

Whatever your reason for selling, we can advise and assist. Morphets offer a prompt service tailored to your requirements for a complete or part clearance.

To begin the process, one of our valuers will visit to advise on the saleability of the contents, identify any items which require inclusion in a specialist sale, prepare an inventory and arrange transport. Arrangements can also be made to remove and dispose of any items which are not suitable for sale by auction, leaving the property ready for placing on the market.

Please email enquiries@morphets.co.uk or call Morphets on 01423 530030 for further information or to schedule a house clearance.

 

 

Consigning Items for Sale

Having decided to sell here's the next step

 

Packing Image_Your first port of call should be to contact the saleroom office to discuss your consignment, the most appropriate type of sale, the sale date and when to bring your items in.

If you are unable to deliver the items yourself we can arrange for our removal contractors to collect by appointment. Standard charges are £42 plus VAT per hour for a van and two men. The removal cost will normally be deducted from the sale proceeds.

You will be asked to provide a list of the items you are consigning and to complete the auction entry form which details our terms and conditions and acts as your receipt.

A reserve, the minimum price that you wish to sell at, can be placed on all or any of your items. If you are unsure of the likely value please ask for a pre-sale estimate from a valuer.

Items awaiting sale are stored free of charge and all items left with us are insured whilst in our care.

Please see our terms and conditions of consignment.

 

Charges

So what does it all cost?

 

Please note all charges are subject to VAT at the current rate.


Commission
15% of the hammer price, with a minimum of £5 per lot, whether sold or unsold.  This commission rate reduces if an individual lot achieves in excess of £10,000. The balance over £10,000 is charged at 12.5%.

If the commission on any one auction is less than £10 the commission will automatically be increased to our minimum entry fee of £10 per auction.


Insurance
All items left for sale are covered against loss or damage, subject to our standard terms and conditions. A charge of 1% of the hammer price or the lower estimate, or reserve where an item remains unsold, is made.


Collection and Packing service
Our removal contractors are available for the collection and packing of goods from anywhere in the UK. The standard charge for this is £42 per hour for a van and two men, the time calculated to include travel, loading and unloading. A minimum of one hour is charged.


Withdrawal
If you withdraw an item from sale after it has been catalogued you are liable to incur a charge of 20% of the reserve or, where no reserve has been placed, at Morphets’ lower estimate plus all expenses incurred.


Unsold Items
A minimum lot charge of £5 is levied on all unsold lots. If a lot has failed to sell that has been subject to a reserve it can usually be reoffered in a future sale with a lower reserve.


Electrical Goods
To comply with Trading Standards legislation, all electrical items have to undergo a Portable Appliance Test by a registered electrician, within the saleroom environment. The fee for this is £5 per item.


CITES and Defra Charges
We are obliged to obtain certification to enable the sale of some species of rosewood and products of endangered species, such as ivory.  This we will do on your behalf and deduct the charge, at cost, from your sale statement.


Illustrations for Fine Art and Antiques and other specialist sales
Photography of items included in our Fine Art and Antique and other specialist sales is charged at £5 per lot for marketing and live internet bidding purposes.


Payment
We aim to pay you approximately 14 days following the sale and no later than 28 days. Payment can only be made when we are in receipt of cleared funds for your lots (please note we act as agents and cannot be held responsible if the buyer defaults). Payment is made by bank transfer directly to your account and a fully itemised statement detailing the hammer price of each lot and any commission and charges that have been deducted is emailed to you, or posted if preferred.