Maynards Fine Art & Antiques

About Maynards Fine Art & Antiques

Maynards Fine Art & Antiques is a fine art and antiques auction house based in Richmond, British Columbia, in Metro Vancouver. It is known for selling many of the province's great estates. All of its auctions now run as timed online sales, with in-person previews at its showroom.

The house advises clients who are buying or selling in a wide range of fields, from Canadian and Northwest Coast art to silver, ceramics, jewellery and carpets. It also offers appraisals and private sales. The Maynards name is also used by an industrial asset business with a separate website. The art and antiques auctions run through maynardsfineart.com.

History

Maynards was founded in 1902 in Victoria, British Columbia. It moved its headquarters to Vancouver in 1956 and set up offices around the world over the following decades.

In 2023 the fine art and antiques business moved to its current showroom at 5000 Minoru Boulevard in Richmond. That is where consignments are received and where lots are previewed before each sale.

What Maynards sells

Maynards runs themed sales across several departments. According to the house, its specialist areas include:

• Canadian art, BC works of art, and Northwest Coast and Inuit art
• International art and Asian works of art, including Chinese and Asian ceramics and carvings
• Glass and ceramics
• Silver, jewellery and designer fashions
• Oriental rugs and textiles
• Period and 20th-century furniture, firearms and militaria, and scientific instruments

The fall 2026 calendar gives a sense of the schedule. It lists Chinese and Asian ceramics, BC works of art, Canadian and contemporary art, Northwest Coast prints, firearms and militaria, ceramics and glass, and silver, jewellery and designer goods, with several sales each month.

Selling at Maynards

Sellers first contact the administrative team with photos, and the team passes them to the right appraiser. The appraiser says whether the items suit a Maynards sale and gives estimates, sometimes after an in-person meeting. Items are then brought to the showroom, listed on a consignment sheet and assigned to the most suitable auction.

The commission is scaled per lot, based on its selling price:

• 25% on a lot selling for $1 to $3,000
• 15% on a lot selling for $3,001 to $5,000
• 10% on a lot selling for $5,001 and over

Settlement cheques and statements are issued 21 business days after the auction closes, and e-transfer or bank transfer is available on request. Unsold lots are offered again in the next sale with an adjusted estimate.

Buying and bidding

Bidders create an account on the Maynards website or app and register for each auction separately. Registrations are approved by staff before bids are accepted. Lot 1 closes at 9 am Pacific Time and later lots close at one-minute intervals. A bid in the final minute adds a five-minute extension.

• Buyer's premium: 23% of the hammer price, plus provincial taxes for buyers in Canada
• Payment: due within three business days; card payments are limited to $5,000 per bidder
• Collection: within five business days, either picked up at the showroom or through a third-party shipper

Maynards does not provide in-house shipping, but it publishes a list of suggested shipping companies. Absentee bids can also be arranged with the administrative team.

Location and viewing

The showroom is at 5000 Minoru Blvd, Richmond, BC. Previews for published auctions are open during business hours for two weeks before the close date. Business hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5 and Saturday 9:30 to 5. Condition questions can be sent through the lot page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buyer's premium at Maynards?

Invoices show the hammer price plus a 23% buyer's premium. Provincial taxes are added for buyers within Canada.

Are Maynards auctions held in person?

No. All Maynards auctions are timed online sales. You can still view lots in person at the Richmond showroom during the two-week preview before each sale closes.

What commission does Maynards charge sellers?

The commission depends on each lot's selling price: 25% up to $3,000, 15% from $3,001 to $5,000, and 10% from $5,001 and up.