There are clocks that have been fully serviced by our clock repairman from last year and then the ones that are coming in the present container that have not been serviced. He has worked for us now over 40 years and if you are interested in a clock he can then look after the service and repairs after I have left. The nature of these movements is such that I have never had a complaint after he has serviced and repaired them. They are just wonderful works of art and to imagine hand made in their time…
Please note that any work done on the furniture when I am set up in the shop, will be reflected in the price. If for example I polish something, this may increase the price that you may see in the Picasa Web Album. Thank you for your understanding. Our services involve buying antiques in France for clients, selling our purchases of genuine French Antiques in a sale every year in Sydney, restoration and valuations.
For my existing customers whom are searching for a specific piece you need to consider the full price sold at auction under the hammer in Euros, then the 23% commission on top (depending on the Auction House) and then our commission of 30% and then 300 euros for handling furniture, such as packing loading and unloading from the container. Also you must consider the value of the item in relation to the cost for the freight back to Australia on the container and this can be quickly determined. I would then convert this into a single value in Australian dollars for clarity simply dividing by the exchange rate. If I was able to locate one privately (not at the Auctions) then there would be no Auction commission of 23%.
It is very important to discuss what you want to pay and also for me to advise you whether or not it is good value. It is also important to know what the cost of restoration or upholstery would be if necessary and I think in this way you buy what you want at a certain price and then you also purchase something of value at value. In the shops in Sydney prices of certain French antiques can be double. I am only in the shop for two months in the year, as appose to paying rent all year round, and this allows me to transmit the savings to you!
If you decided to buy a piece, an antique that I have sent a photo of to you from the Auction houses, you would need to decide that I bid on it up to a certain price. If successful, you would then be required to pay for it into our account in Sydney, the amount it was purchased for at Auction or privately. If the price is too high then we simply wait for another similar to come up. If the item is located privately we can make the purchase and in the same way payment must be made straight away. This does not include our commission nor freight, as these can be paid on delivery in Australia. You are simply covering the cost of the item in France.
Do not forget that if you cannot make a decision, I will be back every year in August and you can simply have a look at my selection of purchases. The last sales in 2011- 2014‚ were the most comprehensive thus far, selling almost 80% of the stock in the month of August alone! 2015 was a high top 40 footer, so more than double the usual stock and we turned over 60%!!! Then I placed the rest of my stock in Auction where some of the items achieved more than the prices I had them marked at in the sale in my old shop! So really do not miss out!
