Participating in an Auction

Participating in an auction is simple and free of charge.
You can take part in the auction in person, by phone, or online.
Browse our online catalogue, discover the lots for sale, and choose the participation method that suits you best.

Each auction is preceded by an exhibition that allows the public to examine the artworks on sale and verify their authenticity, condition, materials, provenance, and consistency with the descriptions and photographs provided in the catalogue, available in both printed and digital formats.
The descriptions and estimates in the catalogue reflect our experts’ opinions on the artworks and their respective market valuations.

Starting bid

The starting bid is the amount at which the auction begins, generally corresponding to the reserve price — the minimum price confidentially agreed upon between Bolli&Romiti and the seller.
For items offered to the highest bidder (M.O.), the starting bid is generally set at €50.00.
For all other lots, bidding increments are typically around 10%, though they may vary at the discretion of the auctioneer.

Bidding in the saleroom

Before bidding in the auction, prospective buyers must provide their personal information, tax identification number, and banking references.
Once these steps are completed, they will be assigned a bidding number, valid for the entire duration of the auction.

If a prospective buyer wishes to bid on behalf of a third party, they must notify the Bolli&Romiti management prior to the start of the sale.
Otherwise, the purchased items will be invoiced to the name and address provided at the time the bidding number was issued and cannot be transferred to other names or addresses.

Written or Telephone Bid

If it is not possible to attend the auction in person, prospective buyers may submit a written or telephone bid by completing the appropriate bid form, which can be found in the printed catalogue, on the website, or obtained at the auction house. The form must be sent via fax to +39 06.87670147 or by email to info@bolliromiti.it.

For written bids, the amount indicated on the form represents the maximum bid: this means the lot may be awarded to the bidder for a lower amount, unless a higher bid is received. In the event of identical bids, preference will be given to the bid placed in the saleroom or to the earliest bid received.
Bids lower than the minimum estimate published in the catalogue will not be accepted.

As for telephone bidding, it is available only for lots with an estimate of €300.00 or higher. In such cases, a member of our staff will contact the bidder by phone to allow real-time participation in the auction.
Calls will be made within the limits of line availability and may be recorded. By participating via telephone, bidders agree to the recording of their conversations.

Live Bid

By registering on our platform, you can participate in the auction live via the web, following the provided instructions.
Written bids, telephone bids, and live online bids are services offered free of charge. Therefore, Bolli&Romiti cannot be held responsible for missed bids or errors in the execution of such bids.

All bids will be considered valid only if received at least two hours before the start of the sale.

Hammer Price

With the fall of the hammer, the lot is considered sold: at that moment, the buyer assumes full responsibility for the item.
In addition to the hammer price, the buyer must pay a buyer’s premium of 26%, inclusive of VAT as required by current regulations.