How to Bid at Auction

Grisebach offers two different types of auction:

Online Only offers you the possiblity to purchase artworks easily and conveniently. These Timed Auctions end at a fixed time, at which time the highest bidder will win the sale. These type of auctions take place exclusively on the internet and without auctioneer.

Click here to find more information about Online Only in our FAQs.

In our traditional auctions, we offer a live experience where you can participate on site and place bids through various channels (written, telephone, online) before and during the auctions.

One-time registration as a bidder is required if you have never bid at one of our auctions before. For this purpose, please complete our online registration form or our first-time bidder registration form, which you can send back to us in any of several ways:

• via e-mail to registration@grisebach.com

• via fax to +49 3088241 45

• or through the mail:
  Grisebach GmbH
  Fasanenstrasse 25
  10719 Berlin, Germany

We will contact you promptly if we require any further information.  

If you have already registered with us as a bidder, then a completed bidding form will suffice for purposes of bidding by telephone or in writing. Alternatively, you can have yourself registered in the auction room directly before the auction.

For more information on registration, please see our information for bidders.

Once you have registered successfully, you can tender bids either before or during the auction. This can be done in a number of ways:

a) In person on our premises
Starting one hour before the start of the auction, you can ask to be assigned a bidder number on our premises. Please being proof of your identity for this purpose (e.g. a personal ID document). If you have already registered as a bidder on our website, you can also reserve your bidder number online.

b) Through an authorized agent on our premises 
If an agent is to tender bids on behalf of a third party, he must be registered with Grisebach at least 24 hours before the start of the auction and a corresponding power of attorney must be presented. The grantor of the power of attorney must also be registered with us as a bidder.

c) Written bids 
You also have the option of taking part at an auction by submitting a maximum bid in writing. You can do this by way of our website once you have registered as a bidder. If you wish to participate in an auction by submitting a written maximum offer by letter or fax, please fill out the bidding form and send it back to us at least 24 hours before the auction:

• via e-mail to gebot@grisebach.com

• via fax to +49 3088241 45

• or through the mail:
  Grisebach GmbH
  Fasanenstrasse 25
  10719 Berlin, Germany

Please understand that we do not accept free-form emails for this purpose.

d) Bidding by telephone  

Bidding by telephone is an added option for many of our auctions. Please use our bidding form for this purpose. Don’t forget to include the lot number of the artwork you are interested in as well as your telephone number. Please send the form back to us at least 24 hours before the start of the auction

• via e-mail to registration@grisebach.com or

• via fax to +49 3088241 45.

We will call you once the works ranked a few lot numbers before your desired artwork come up in the queue. We will be happy to place your bids in the auction room on your behalf.

e) Live online bidding 
You can also participate in our auctions by bidding online:

1. You need to register once on our website to create your personal customer account.

2. Be sure to register with the auction you are interested in at least one day before the auction is held. Grisebach will verify your registration and assign you a bidder number.

3. On the day of the auction and before your lot is called, please log into your account and follow the ongoing auction until your lot is called. You are now able to place your bids.

You will also be able to place your personal highest bid before the start of the auction. This means your bid will automatically be increased during auction, but only to the amount necessary to reach the limit or outbid another bidder. We wish you much success!

If you just want to follow an auction online as a guest by watching and listening, then you don’t have to take any special steps. On the day of the auction you can connect to the live transmission of the auction.