Getting it home
Shipping is bidding information, so we publish it first
Every lot page shows a packed-and-shipped estimate above the bid control, calculated from the object's measured weight and packed volume. Nothing about the cost of getting it to you should be a surprise.
The two mistakes
Almost every breakage we have handled came from one of two causes.
The box that is too small. An object needs at least two inches of crushable material on every face, including underneath. A box that fits snugly transmits every impact straight into the object; a box with clearance turns an impact into a deceleration.
The double box that is not double boxed. A double box only works if the inner box floats. If it touches the outer box on any face, you have built a single box with an expensive liner.
Neither of those is the courier’s fault, which is why we do not let couriers do the packing.
By material
How each kind of object travels
Ceramics & glass
Tissue, then wood wool, then a floating inner box with a two-inch clearance on all six faces. Existing damage is wrapped separately and marked on the inner box so you unpack that end last.
Watches & small metal
Foam-lined rigid case inside a padded outer, sent tracked and signed-for. Straps are removed and wrapped separately so a buckle cannot mark a case in transit.
Textiles
Rolled rather than folded wherever the piece allows, interleaved with acid-free tissue, and sealed against damp. Rugs go rolled on a core and sent as a tube.
Furniture over 40 lb
Blanket-wrapped on a freight service, not through a parcel network. We will tell you the largest single dimension before you bid if you ask — measure your doorway first, not after.
What it actually costs
Real estimates from lots currently in the catalogue
These are the published figures on those lots’ own pages, not indicative ranges. Domestic delivery, packed by us, insured for hammer plus premium.
| Lot | Object | Category | Weight & size | Packed & shipped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celadon teapot with bound cane handle | ceramics | 6½ in high to the handle · 7 in across the body · 1.1 lb | $32 |
| 4 | Three studio glass vessels | glass | tallest 9 in · smallest 4¼ in · 5.2 lb the group | $64 |
| 23 | Steel diver’s watch, faded matte dial | watches | 38mm case · 47mm lug to lug · 20mm lug width | $42 |
| 35 | Flatwoven wool rug, ochre and rust bands | textiles | 5 ft 8 in × 3 ft 4 in · 9.2 lb | $120 |
| 11 | Walnut-framed lounge chair in oatmeal bouclé | furniture | 30 in high · 26 in wide · 29 in deep · seat 16½ in · 24 lb | $240 |
Questions
Shipping questions
Why is the shipping estimate on the lot page rather than at checkout?
Because shipping cost is bidding information. A $200 pot that costs $90 to send is a different proposition from one that costs $30 to send, and hiding that until checkout is a way of getting people to bid more than they meant to.
What if the actual cost comes in under the estimate?
You are charged the actual cost, not the estimate. The estimate is a ceiling we work to, calculated from measured weight and packed volume, and it comes in over the actual figure more often than under.
What happens if something arrives broken?
That is on us, not on you. Every lot we pack is covered for its hammer-plus-premium value in transit. Photograph the box before you open it fully, keep all the packing, and email the saleroom within 48 hours.
Can I collect in person instead?
Yes, and for furniture we would encourage it. Collection is free from the saleroom on SE Water Avenue, Wednesday to Saturday, 11 to 6, within 14 days of the sale closing.