Carlo Bonte Auctions
Bruges auction house with roots in 1932, Belgium's leading saleroom for Asian art, also selling European art and design.
About Carlo Bonte Auctions
Carlo Bonte Auctions is an art and antiques auction house in Bruges, less than a kilometre from the Grote Markt. It describes itself as the leading auction house in Belgium for Asian art and also sells a wide range of European antiques, fine art and design. The house works from a 5,000 mΒ² building with its own car park, and it also has a gallery in Knokke-Zoute.
The house is led by Carlo Bonte, its CEO, auctioneer and expert. It has a team of about ten people and a client base of private collectors, museums, decorators and dealers around the world.
History
The house traces its roots to the Sioen family, who were active in the Bruges auction trade in the early 20th century. In 1932 the family bought a building at Noordzandstraat 82 and converted it into an auction room called "Van Dyck". Until 1980 it was one of the leading names in Bruges auctions, alongside the house Garnier. This is the origin of the "Auctions since 1932" line the house uses today.
In 1980 Roger Sioen joined forces with Lude Bonte, the founder of Bonte Verhuizingen and Art Aficionado, and the business moved to its present address at Kardinaal Mercierstraat 20. Carlo Bonte studied management in Cambridge, Utrecht and Angers, followed a course at Christie's Education in London and became a director at Partridge Fine Art on New Bond Street. He took over the Bruges business in 2008, and the house says he was the first in Belgium to build an extensive network of buyers in China.
What Carlo Bonte sells
Asian art, and Chinese porcelain in particular, is the house's main specialty. Its multi-day sales combine this with European art, antiques and design. Results published by the house include:
- A set of Chinese porcelain plaques, polychrome decorated and signed by the artist: β¬271,250
- A painting attributed to Frans Francken the Younger, The Rape of the Sabine Women: β¬247,650
- Joan MirΓ³, Oiseaux, 1972, acrylic on canvas: β¬219,300
- A pair of Kangxi-period blue and white palace vases: β¬162,500
- Emile Claus, DΓ©clin du jour: β¬100,000
Other results include a Breguet Classique Tourbillon platinum watch, Hermès Birkin and Kelly handbags, a Pan-Slavic silver and enamel centrepiece, and design pieces by Ado Chale, Arne Jacobsen and Charles and Ray Eames.
Selling at Carlo Bonte
To sell, owners first email photographs to the house's experts, and the house offers free estimates. Accepted items are brought to the Bruges premises and stored there until the sale, while the team catalogues them and markets them to its international clients. After the sale, the seller is paid by bank transfer. The house does not publish its seller's commission online, so terms are agreed per consignment. For objects made from materials covered by the CITES convention, such as ivory, it follows the rules of the Belgian Federal Public Service for Public Health.
Buying and bidding
The conditions of sale set the in-house buyer's premium at 29% of the hammer price. The same rate applies to online bids placed through the house's own platform, CarloBonteLive. Bidding through other platforms adds a surcharge, which brings the total premium to:
- Invaluable and LiveAuctioneers: 34%
- the-saleroom.com, 51BidLive and Epailive: 32%
- Drouot Live: 30.5%
Every auction is livestreamed on the house's website. Bidders must register at least 48 hours before the first sale day, and approval usually takes about 24 hours. Absentee bids can be placed online or on a bid form. Telephone bids are accepted for lots with an expected hammer price above β¬1,500. The artist's resale right applies to qualifying original works from a hammer price of β¬2,000, with a maximum of β¬12,500.
Location and viewing
The auction house is at Kardinaal Mercierstraat 20, 8000 Bruges. The office is open by appointment on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Friday from 10:00 to 15:00. The house can be reached by telephone on +32 50 33 23 55.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Carlo Bonte best known for?
The house describes itself as Belgium's leading auction house for Asian art, especially Chinese porcelain. It also sells European paintings, antiques, design, watches and luxury handbags.
What buyer's premium does Carlo Bonte charge?
The premium is 29% in the room and on its own CarloBonteLive platform. Through external platforms it rises to between 30.5% (Drouot Live) and 34% (Invaluable and LiveAuctioneers).
How old is Carlo Bonte Auctions?
The house traces its roots to 1932, when the Sioen family opened the Van Dyck auction room in Bruges. Carlo Bonte took over the business in 2008.
Fee Information
29% in-house and via CarloBonteLive; total 30.5% via Drouot Live, 32% via the-saleroom/51BidLive/Epailive, 34% via Invaluable/LiveAuctioneers
Negotiated per consignment
Source: Official website
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