We make it easy to buy at auction
Canada’s oldest and most diverse auction house, Waddington’s offers the very best across a wide range of categories, including Canadian, Asian, International, First Nations, Inuit and Métis Art, Decorative Arts and Design, Fine Jewellery, and Fine Wine and Spirits.
Featuring close to 100 auctions throughout the year, bid with confidence on our enhanced digital platform anytime, anywhere. With a broad global network, our team of experienced specialists looks forward to assisting you with virtually everything you may want to sell, buy or have appraised.
We are also the go-to auction company for unique estate and specially curated auctions. Every item offered is carefully researched, catalogued and presented, and our specialists are always pleased to provide further information including condition reports when desired.
Find Out About Our Auctions
Our website allows you to search for specific items, artists or artworks.
Sign up for our email alerts to find out about upcoming auctions and events and to ensure that you never miss another auction.
How to start bidding
You must create an account before bidding in any of our auctions. Your identity may be subject to verification before you are able to bid.
SOME NOTES ON BIDDING
Our bidding platform provides a convenient and secure method to buy at auction.
Once your account has been created, you can place online bids anytime up until the end time for the desired lot.
- Lots may go into ‘overtime’ if a bid is received in the final five minutes of the auction. The countdown clock is reset an additional five minutes, until no further bids are received.
- You can also leave ‘absentee’ or ‘max’ bids by entering the maximum amount you would like to bid up to; the software will bid on your behalf up to that amount.
- A lot may be designated as ‘premium’ due its value, special or high interest, cultural importance, or other factors. Bidders must be approved before they can bid on Premium Lots.
Find out more about Premium Lots.
Find out more about our bidding platform.
Try our mobile app for even easier access to our auctions.
Payment & Getting Your Purchased Item(s) Home
Once your invoice has been paid in full, you can either pick up your purchased items or arrange for shipping. .
Items purchased must be picked up no later than 10 days after the auction has closed. Items not picked up within that time period may be subject to storage fees on a per lot basis at $15/week, unless other arrangements have been made with Waddington’s.
Note: Waddington’s does not undertake packing or shipping.
The purchaser must arrange for the services of an independent shipper and is responsible for all shipping, insurance expenses and any necessary export permits that may apply. We will, on request, provide names of professional packers and shippers but are not responsible for the service or have any liability for providing this information.
Reliable pre-auction estimates of shipping costs from our Toronto office may be obtained from:
PakShip
T: 905-470-6874
F: 905-470-6875
T: 416-293-8225
[email protected]
www.pakship.ca
Safer Shipping Inc. (Formerly Envoy)
T: 416-299-3367
[email protected]
www.safershipping.ca
Please note information regarding specialised shippers can be provided by department specialists.
Pick Up & Shipping from Vancouver
Please note that lots in our Waddington’s West auctions are located in Vancouver, BC.
When contacting the shippers please have your invoice number and item information ready. Contact is best via email.
PakMail
T: 604-472-6245
[email protected]
www.pakmailcanada.com
UPS
T: 604-559-5446
F: 604-685-4455
[email protected]
Additionally, contact us to find out more about the inter-office shuttle between our Toronto and Vancouver offices.
The fine print of how you can bid and what you need to know:
Online Auctions
- Registration for our online auctions is completed through our website. Once registered, you will be assigned a bidding number for an online auction when you log into your account.
- Once registered, you can place online bids anytime up to the noted end time for the desired lot. If a bid is received in the final five minutes of the auction, the countdown clock is reset an additional five minutes, until no further bids are received. You can also leave absentee bids by entering the maximum amount you would like to bid up to; the software will bid on your behalf up to that amount.
Live Auctions
- Registration for a live auction is free and can be completed at our office during the preview for an auction or on the night (or afternoon) of the auction or online.
- Raise your hand or your bidding number given to you when you registered. Don’t be shy. After your first bid, the auctioneer will watch for you.
Absentee Bids
- Clients unable to attend an auction can register an absentee bid with our office. Waddington’s will bid on your behalf to purchase the item at the lowest bid not exceeding your specified maximum. Absentee bids must be received at least four (4) hours prior to the auction.
- You will find a link to the Absentee Bid Form form on each Live Auction’s detail page.
- You can also leave an Absentee Bid by filling out the Absentee Bid Form PDF and faxing it to (416) 504-0033
Telephone Bids
- An alternative manner to participate in the auction is through telephone bidding. As with absenting bidding, you must contact our office at least four hours in advance of the auction to arrange telephone bidding. Once registered for a telephone bid(s) you will be contacted by telephone by a member of our team just prior to the item being offered. Please note due to volume of telephone bid requests, this service is available on a first come-first served basis.
- You will find a link to the Telephone Bid Form form on each Live Auction’s detail page.
- You can also leave a Phone Bid by filling out the Telephone Bid Form PDF and faxing it to (416) 504-0033
Fees
- Waddington’s charges a buyer’s premium of 20% on the hammer price.
- Buyer’s premium and applicable Canadian taxes are added to the hammer price. Taxes are exempt for any items directly shipped from our premises out of Canada.
Conditions of Sale
Payment
- We accept payment by cash, traveler’s cheque, bank draft, electronic transfer (fee applies), VISA or Mastercard (up to $25,000). Canadian clients may also use INTERAC direct debit and certified cheque as payment.
- Payment for purchases must made within 48 hours of the auction.
Shipping
- Waddington’s does not undertake packing or shipping. The purchaser must designate and arrange for the services of an independent shipper and is responsible for all shipping, insurance expenses and any necessary export permits that may apply. We will, on request, provide names of professional packers and shippers but are not responsible for the service or have any liability for providing this information. Reliable pre-auction estimates of shipping costs may be obtained from us.
Storage Fees
- Items purchased and not picked up after 10 days following the auction may be subject to storage fees on a per lot basis at $15/week, unless Waddington’s is otherwise notified at time of payment.
Important Notice for International Clients
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- Restrictions exist regarding the import and export of species protected under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). This includes but is not limited to items made of or containing bone (whalebone, etc.), ivory, tortoise shell, seal skin, rhinoceros horn and any other animal part and is strictly controlled or forbidden by most countries. Please review your country’s laws before bidding on pieces made of or containing these restricted items. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer to inquire about and obtain the proper permits for artwork purchased that may contain restricted materials, if such permit can be obtained.
- Please contact the department for further assistance. For more information please visit www.cites.org