Bob Scholte Fine Art will be exhibiting at PAN Amsterdam 2026 • Stand D • 1 - 9 November
Buying Art at Auction: Strategy, Bidding and Guidance
Every day, dozens of international auctions close, with thousands of works of art going under the hammer. Within this constant flow lie exceptional opportunities, yet it is precisely here that the greatest risks are found.
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Buying at auction requires experience. A work is purchased as is, in the condition it is in at that moment, while guarantees of authenticity are often absent and auction catalogues regularly contain errors. Behind an attractive estimate there may be an outstanding opportunity, but equally a costly mistake. And the question that occupies many collectors remains: “Am I bidding too high?”
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Within this dynamic market, Bob Scholte Fine Art guides collectors in the focused monitoring, assessment and acquisition of art at auction. I spend 2 to 3 hours every day screening auctions, amounting to thousands of artworks each week, identifying with a trained eye the opportunities that are truly relevant to your collection.
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To support collectors in this process, I offer two dedicated services: an auction monitoring service and a bidding service.
Auction Monitoring Service
Not every exceptional work appears at the moment you have time to search. That is precisely why I screen the international auction market on a daily basis, with your specific collecting interests, preferred search areas and favourite artists carefully taken into account.
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You benefit directly from this continuous market overview. From unexpected discoveries to works that fit seamlessly within your collection, you receive only the opportunities that truly matter, each accompanied by an initial assessment of quality, risk and market position.
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I forward only those lots that are genuinely relevant to your collection. It then remains entirely up to you to decide whether or not to pursue an acquisition. Bidding, transport and all related arrangements remain your responsibility, or can, if desired, be entrusted to the bidding service.
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Fee
Monthly retainer, tailored to the scope and intensity of the search brief
Bidding Service
With the bidding service, you will never miss an important lot again and can focus on other matters with complete peace of mind.
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We briefly align on the lot and bidding strategy. Once you decide to proceed with the acquisition, I take care of the entire process, from registration to strategic bidding within your pre-agreed limit, followed by transport and all practical arrangements.
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This allows you to buy with greater confidence, without having to follow the auction yourself. Everything is handled with discretion, precision and the reassurance that no important lot will pass you by. Following a successful purchase, the auction house invoices the work directly in your name.
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This service works seamlessly alongside the auction monitoring service, but can also be engaged independently when you have already identified an interesting lot yourself.
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Fee
€120 excl. VAT per lot + 3% of the hammer price
