Adam's

About Adam's

Adam's is a Dublin auction house founded in 1887 by James Adam. It sells from 26 St. Stephen's Green in central Dublin. It sells Irish and international art, jewellery and watches, period furniture, rare books and Asian art. It also holds sales of collections from Irish country houses.

Adam's holds live auctions in the saleroom and timed online auctions through its website. It gives free informal valuations and publishes its buyer's premium and seller's commission rates, so the costs are clear before you bid or consign.

History

The Irish Times announced the new business on 25 July 1887. James Adam was born in Scotland in 1849 and worked for the Dublin firm Arthur Jones & Sons before starting on his own. He first traded from 17 Merrion Row.

In the 1890s the firm moved to 19 St. Stephen's Green, a large premises that had once been a pram shop. In 1968 it moved to 26 St. Stephen's Green and Kildare Street, where it still is. Adam's started holding separate Irish art sales in the early 1970s, and Irish art is now its best-known department.

• 1887: James Adam opens at 17 Merrion Row
• 1890s: The firm moves to 19 St. Stephen's Green
• 1968: The firm moves to 26 St. Stephen's Green
• Early 1970s: Separate Irish art sales begin
• 2011: Jack B. Yeats's A Fair Day, Mayo sells for €1 million

What Adam's sells

Adam's has specialist departments, and each one holds its own sales. Its Irish art sales carry the most weight in the market. In September 2011 Jack B. Yeats's A Fair Day, Mayo sold at Adam's for €1 million. At the time, this was reported as a record for an artwork sold in Ireland.

• Important Irish Art and Irish Old Masters
• Fine Jewellery and Watches, including the Jewellery Box sales
• Period Furniture and Decorative Arts
• Rare Books and Manuscripts, including The Library Sale
• Fine Asian Arts, Antiques and Paintings
• Mid-Century Modern Art and Design
• Country House Collections, "At Home" interiors sales, and Wine and Spirits

The firm's history also mentions coins, medals, silver and porcelain among the things it has sold over the years.

Selling at Adam's

Adam's gives free informal valuations by phone or email. Formal valuations for insurance, probate or market value cost extra, and the fee depends on the size and value of the collection. If you go ahead, you sign a sale contract and deliver the items about six weeks before the auction. Adam's stores them securely until the sale.

The standard seller's commission runs from 10% to 17.5% plus VAT, depending on the sale. Irish art sales charge 10% and most other sales charge 17.5%. There is a minimum fee of €25 per lot. Sellers are usually paid four to six weeks after the auction.

Buying and bidding

Adam's has two buyer's premium rates, and both include VAT:

• 25% including VAT: Irish Art, Irish Old Masters, Fine Jewellery and Watches, Jewellery Box, Fine Watches, Mid-Century Modern, and Wine and Spirits
• 30% including VAT: Fine and Decorative Arts, "At Home", The Library Sale, Country House Collections, online furniture and picture auctions, Asian Art, and Works on Paper and Books

You can bid in the room, on Adam's own Adam's Live platform, or in timed online auctions on its website. Adam's Live opens 30 minutes before each auction and costs nothing extra. Bidding through a third-party platform adds an extra web premium. Paying with a card issued outside the EU adds 2% to the invoice.

Location and viewing

The saleroom is at 26 St. Stephen's Green in central Dublin, with access from Kildare Street. Live auctions are held there, and Adam's asks bidders in the room to arrive in plenty of time. You can pay online through the invoice email, by bank transfer, by phone or in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buyer's premium at Adam's?

It is 25% including VAT for Irish art, Irish Old Masters, jewellery, watches, Mid-Century Modern, and wine and spirits. Most other sales, such as decorative arts, books, Asian art and country house collections, charge 30% including VAT.

Does Adam's offer free valuations?

Yes. Adam's gives free informal valuations by phone or email. Formal valuations for insurance, probate or market value are charged, depending on the size and value of the collection.

Can I bid online at Adam's?

Yes. Adam's Live opens 30 minutes before each auction and costs nothing extra, and Adam's also holds timed online auctions. Third-party bidding platforms add an extra web premium.