Auctions at Stuart Kingston


Stuart Kingston wants you to understand the auction process and enjoy being a part of it. We operate on LiveAuctioneers and the Invaluable platforms. For in-store auctions review our Terms and Conditions at the bottom of the page prior to attending. Additionally, we are always looking for consignments. Our experienced staff will be more than happy to assist you, for further questions complete our Contact Form.
  • How to Buy
  • How to Sell
  • Internet Bidding
  • Condition & Photo Request
  • Payment Information
  • Appraisals

Visit Our Auction House

Stuart Kingston auctions are open to the public. Buying at auction is easy and our knowledgeable staff is available Monday through Friday to assist you with any questions you may have about bidding at auction (please call (302)227-2524 or email us at info@stuartkingston.com with any questions).


There are four ways to bid through Stuart Kingston: in person, absentee bids, bidding by telephone and online bidding. Please keep in mind that phone, absentee and Internet bidding should be arranged, and registration confirmed, well before the start of each auction session.


The final sale price is the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium At Stuart Kingston the buyer’s premium is 15.% (see Conditions of Sale, 20% if bidding through LiveAuctioneers).


When you come to Stuart Kingston please be sure to bring your driver’s license and a credit card (Visa, MC, American Express or Discover) for the purpose of opening an account with Stuart Kingston and registering to bid.


When bidding at auction you have entered into a contract, which means that if you are a successful bidder, you are required to pay for them. It is therefore important that you inspect all items before you make a purchase (look at the image, read the description, review the condition report, inspect the item in person if possible and, if you still have questions, please give one of our experts a call at (302) 227-2524 and we’ll be happy to assist you). We endeavor to be fair and forthright with our descriptions and condition reports, however we ask that bidders acknowledge that antique items often show normal signs of use and wear consistent with age that may not be specified in a condition report. If you have expectations of perfection in the items you purchase, it is advisable that you inspect lots in person and that you do not submit absentee bids as your definition of condition may be more exacting than an appraiser could have time to verify (see Conditions of Sale for more info. or click on the Condition/Photo Request Form to ask a quest.).


We sell about 100 lots per hour .When the auctioneer says “sold”, title of the lot passes to the high bidder. In the case of a dispute, the auctioneers decision is final.


Once you have made a purchase at our auction house, you can pay for it with cash, check, credit card, bank check, or money order. Once payment is received our staff will retrieve your purchase, or, if you are not attending the auction in person, release your purchase to the shipper of your choice. We do ask that anyone purchasing large items call ahead to make sure we have someone available to assist you with loading your purchase. All items must be paid for within 10 days of the day of sale and picked up within two weeks of the day of sale (see Payment and Shipping for more information).

Consigning with Stuart Kingston

"The Most Personalized Consignment Service in the Auction Business"


Stuart Kingston Auction is one of the finest auction house in the American East Coast. We bring the style and force of the auction house profiled in the publications Southern Living, Washington Post, Delaware News Journal, Delaware Today, Beach Life, and the Cape Gazette. We have been featured on television programming including WBOC, a CBS affiliate and Channel 47 an ABC affiliate.


With our national and international clientele, media attention, the quality of our merchandise and our beautiful catalogues give a cosmopolitan awareness and attraction to our gallery that propels it far beyond the status of any regional auction house.


Stuart Kingston will fulfill the following responsibilities and any other duties necessary for the successful sale of your collection.


Estimates: Professionally estimate the values of your properties, providing realistic, non-inflated figures.


Packaging/Shipping: Carefully pack your properties and transport them to Stuart Kingston Auction House located at 330 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971


Insurance: Properly insure your properties from the time of pick-up through the date of sale or removal from the Stuart Kingston Auction House.


Cataloguing: Professionally catalogue your properties, utilizing the talents of Stuart Kingston’s in house experts who have access to over 2,000 volumes in house reference library. In addition Stuart Kingston subscribes to the most comprehensive online art reference database.


Photography: Beautifully photograph important objects and groupings of the properties for inclusion in our handsomely illustrated sales catalogue.


Marketing: Nationally and internationally advertise the Auction in the most effective and important antiques trade journals, newspapers, and auction websites such as: 

-Live Auctioneers

-Invaluable

-The Guide

-The Delaware News Journal

-The Cape Gazette 

-Auction Zip 

-Email


To further promote our auctions via full-color beautifully graphic designed post cards mailed to all of our clients with pictures, descriptions and the date of the sale.


Auction Catalogue: Distribute auction catalogues both nationally and internationally.

The Distinguishing mark of a top-echelon auction house is a catalogue. There is a marked difference between a major auction house like Stuart Kingston, which publishes a fine catalogue, and the other auction companies in the area. A consigner prefers to see their property elegantly and elaborately illustrated in the Stuart Kingston manner. Which translates into real dollars for the consigner. Provides the consigner with as many sales catalogues as requested


Exhibition: Stuart Kingston is the only auction house that provides a full two-week by appointment exhibition prior to each sale. This allows ample time for viewing, and to make travel arrangements. The exhibition also includes a fully catered evening reception that provides an opportunity for local business people to view your properties after regular business hours.


Presentation of your properties: Stuart Kingston will display your properties in a tasteful showroom setting within our historic building. Located in the Rehoboth Beach area only minutes from the beach, near many of the most prestigious hotels and businesses.

Our interior designs will arrange your merchandise in a fashionable and artistic collection, which coordinates and commands attention to the antiques. In addition our warehouse is climate controlled and optimally secure. The professional courtesies we openly extend, the numerous little extras we perform and our keen attention to detail have all helped to give us an edge over other auction houses. These extras translate into a higher bottom line for our consigners.


We look forward to working with you. Please contact us to discuss your consignment:

Internet Bidding

Utilizing LiveAuctioneers and Invaluable, you may now bid live from the privacy of your own computer or leave an absentee bid to be executed by Live Auctioneers. 


Please visit LiveAuctioneers to review the current sale options and deadlines for bidding on their website. Be sure to read the published Terms and Conditions when registering via the online bidding services as rules, bidding deadlines, and buyer's premiums differ slightly to bidding directly with Stuart Kingston. If you are new to LiveAuctioneers, you must click on “create account” in the upper right hand corner of the LiveAuctioneers home page (www.liveauctioneers.com). Fill out the required information, and, once you have verified your email address, you can sign up for any upcoming auction at Stuart Kingston that is posted on Live Auctioneers.


All clients are required to provide a MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover account number and expiration date in order to be approved to bid with Stuart Kingston Please submit our online form to Stuart Kingston so that we may approve you to bid. All bidders must also provide their full name, address, email address, and phone number when registering for an account with Live Auctioneers.


The Buyer’s Premium when bidding through LiveAuctioneers & Invaluable is 20%


If you have any questions about online bidding, please contact Mauria Stein at mauria@stuartkingston.com or you can contact LiveAuctioneers directly at info@liveauctioneers.com or Invaluable @invaluablesuctions.com

Condition & Photo Request

Stuart Kingston Inc. is pleased to provide all interested buyers with a condition report and/or additional photographs for the lots they wish to purchase. Condition reports are prepared by an appraiser at Stuart Kingston Inc.’s auction house. We endeavor to be fair and forthright with our descriptions and condition reports. To that end, however, we ask that bidders acknowledge that antique items often show normal signs of use and wear consistent with age that may not be specified in a condition report. Clients with expectations of pristine condition for the items they purchase are encouraged to inspect items in person prior to bidding as their definition of condition may be more exacting than an appraiser could have time to verify. Please note that the warranties given by Stuart Kingston, Inc., as described in the Terms of Guarantee, do not extend to the condition reports (written or verbal). 

Payment Information

Stuart Kingston accepts a variety of payment methods including Cash, Check, Bank Check, American Express, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover or wire transfer.


Payment for your purchase is due within 10 days of the day of sale.


Your total due to Stuart Kingston is the bid (or hammer) price of the item plus the buyer’s 15% premium (20% on LiveAuctioneers & Invaluable)


Stuart Kingston reserves the right to charge the total invoice amount plus a 2% handling fee to the credit card account of record for any bidder who has not paid within fifteen days from the auction date.


Stuart Kingston pays its consignors thirty days from the day of sale. If payment is not received by the consignor payment date, a civil complaint will be filed in order to obtain the total due plus any applicable storage, court and administrative fe

Appraisals

Trusts, Estates and Appraisals

Our Trusts, Estates and Appraisals department understands the unique needs of those handling an estate with a wide variety of property. For more than eight decades, Stuart Kingston has been a trusted partner of bankers, attorneys, galleries, and collectors. We provide a comprehensive, formal document with every item catalogued, valued, and accurately described to allow for comparison within the market. Stuart Kingston thorough appraisals are accepted by major insurance companies as well as, the Internal Revenue Service, where we have never been challenged.


Appraisal Services

Stuart Kingston Auctioneers begins the appraisal process with a preliminary evaluation of your property either through an on-site walk-through, depending on the location, or by reviewing listings and photographs (if available) with descriptions to enable us to formulate a plan customized for your appraisal needs including formal written appraisals for estate tax, estate planning, charitable contribution, gift tax and insurance.


Appraisals are conducted by our team of specialists for the Internal Revenue Service, tax and estate planning professionals according to industry standards. Fees for these appraisals are based on the time and number of specialists required to evaluate the property of which will be refunded pro-rata should you consign any of the property to us for sale.


Packing and Shipping

In addition to services provided for those selling at auction, your account executive may arrange any of the following additional services for you:

-Quick and efficient settlement while accommodating your deadlines as much as possible

-Coordinating the shipping of unconsigned property to heirs

-Arranging the donation of property not intended for auction

Currently Accepting Consignments!

Complete our Contact Form or reach us directly at 302-227-2524

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