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Selling guide

Where to sell antiques without choosing the wrong channel

The best place to sell an antique depends on the item, likely value, condition, urgency, and how much work you want to handle yourself. An auction house may create competition for a specialist object, while a dealer may offer a faster and simpler sale. Online marketplaces can reach many buyers, but the seller commonly handles pricing, photography, shipping, returns, and fraud risk.

Start by identifying what you probably have, documenting condition, and comparing more than one route. AntiqScope results and the marks and value reference index are research starting points, not formal appraisals or guaranteed sale prices.

Channel comparison

Compare likely cost, speed, and fit

The figures below are broad, commonly reported ranges for planning only. Actual commissions and extra fees vary by company, location, item category, sale value, and contract. Always verify the current written agreement before consigning, listing, shipping, or handing over an item.

Channel Typical fee structure Typical timing Usually best for
Auction house Commonly reported seller commission: about 10-30%, sometimes plus photography, insurance, cataloguing, or withdrawal fees. Often several weeks to a few months, depending on the sale calendar. Higher-value, specialist, rare, or well-documented pieces that may benefit from competitive bidding.
Online marketplace Commonly reported platform and payment fees: about 8-20% in total; promoted listings, shipping, returns, and taxes may add cost. A listing can go live quickly, but the item may take days or months to sell. Sellers comfortable with pricing, photography, packing, buyer messages, returns, and fraud precautions.
Dealer A direct purchase commonly has no separate seller commission. The dealer's resale margin is normally reflected in the offer. Often the fastest route when the dealer wants the item and can inspect it promptly. Sellers who value speed, convenience, and a certain offer more than testing the full retail market.
Estate sale Commonly reported company commission: about 25-50% of gross sales, with minimums or setup costs possible. Commonly several weeks for evaluation, preparation, advertising, and the sale itself. Households selling many items together, especially when sorting, staging, and local buyer access are needed.
Consignment Commonly reported commission: about 20-50%, depending on item value, store type, markdown rules, and selling period. Often one to several months, with no guarantee that the item will sell. Decorative, collectible, or furniture pieces suited to a retailer's existing customer base.

Important: A headline commission is not the complete cost. Confirm all fees, taxes, insurance, shipping, return exposure, reserve terms, payment timing, and unsold-item charges in the contract.

Before requesting offers

Prepare the item before choosing a seller

  • Photograph the full object, base, back, underside, labels, signatures, hallmarks, repairs, and damage in clear light.
  • Write down dimensions, weight, materials, known history, and every condition issue you can see.
  • Research the likely category before accepting an offer; start with the marks and value guides in the AntiqScope reference index.
  • Ask for the complete fee schedule, payment timing, insurance terms, reserve policy, return rules, and unsold-item procedure in writing.
  • For a potentially valuable piece, compare more than one specialist opinion rather than relying on the first estimate.
  • Do not clean, polish, repair, or reframe an item until a knowledgeable specialist explains how that work could affect value.

Read the agreement

Questions to ask before you sign

  • Is the quoted percentage calculated on the hammer price, gross sale price, or net proceeds?
  • Are photography, cataloguing, storage, shipping, insurance, payment processing, advertising, or withdrawal charged separately?
  • Can the seller set a reserve or minimum acceptable price, and what happens if the item does not sell?
  • Who is responsible for loss, damage, returns, chargebacks, or a buyer dispute?
  • When will payment be released, and can the selling period or markdown schedule be extended without approval?

Understand appraisal costs

Compare common fee structures and free research alternatives before paying for a formal opinion.

Check reproduction warning signs

Review material, weight, mark, construction, and wear signals before describing an item for sale.

Know what a scan can tell you

Learn where an AI-assisted result is useful and when specialist verification is the safer next step.

Research before you sell

Scan the item, then compare the right selling route

Use AntiqScope for a first-pass category, era, and value direction. Confirm important claims with a qualified specialist before selling, insuring, or representing an item as authentic.

Scan before selling