Veilinggebouw De Zwaan

About Veilinggebouw De Zwaan

Veilinggebouw De Zwaan is a general art, antiques and design auction house in Amsterdam. It describes itself as the oldest auction house in Amsterdam and the only one still operating in the city centre. Three times a year it holds a large general art and antiques auction in its canal house on the Keizersgracht.

The house is a family business led by Babette van den Brink, director and auctioneer. It also says it is the only Dutch auction house with a specialism in tribal art.

History

De Zwaan traces its history to 1818, when a group of auctioneers began selling household contents in buildings on the Singel. The complex was known as De Zwaan, after a brewery that had stood there from 1578 to 1790. Growth in the late 19th century led to expansion into houses on the Spuistraat, and in 1913 the firm moved to Keizersgracht 474, a merchant's house from around 1675.

In the late 1930s Gerard van den Brink joined the firm as a young man, rose to auctioneer and later bought the business. His daughter Babette started full time in the early 1990s, took the hammer for the first time in 1999 and has been director since 2014.

What De Zwaan sells

Each general sale covers a wide range of departments. The online catalogue of a recent sale was organised into sections including:

• Jewellery and watches
• Silver, silver plate and objets de vertu
• European porcelain, earthenware and glass
• Chinese porcelain and Asian art, including Japanese woodblock prints
• Tribal art from Africa, Indonesia and Oceania, and archaeology
• Icons and religious art, and 20th-century applied arts
• Paintings, watercolours and drawings, from Old Masters to modern and contemporary art
• Persian carpets, clocks, antique furniture and design

At Babette van den Brink's first auction in 1999 two records were set: an 18th-century Amsterdam longcase clock sold for 190,000 guilders and a silver vase by Jan Eisenloeffel for 128,000 guilders.

Selling at De Zwaan

The house values and sells estates, collections and household contents, and works with a network of appraisers and specialists. Sellers can send photographs through an online valuation form or by email, visit the Keizersgracht, or arrange a home visit.

The published seller's commission is at most 20%, including VAT, insurance and illustration costs, plus 10 euros administration per lot. A reserve can be agreed, and objects are insured during transport and storage. Settlement and payment follow five weeks after the auction.

Buying and bidding

Buyers can bid live online, in the saleroom, by written commission bid or by telephone for lots with a low estimate above 1,000 euros. Live online bidding runs through the house's own catalogue website, which requires registration. Commission bids are accepted until one hour before the relevant session.

The buyer's premium is 29.5% including VAT on the hammer price. Artist's resale right may also apply to works made within the last 70 years. Payment is by debit card or bank transfer; credit cards are not accepted.

Location and viewing

De Zwaan is at Keizersgracht 474 in central Amsterdam, near the Leidsestraat, with a loading area for collection. Before each sale all lots are shown on public viewing days. Purchases are collected on set days after payment, and the house can advise on shipping and transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the buyer's premium at De Zwaan?

De Zwaan charges a buyer's premium of 29.5% including VAT on the hammer price. Artist's resale right can be added for works made in the last 70 years.

How old is Veilinggebouw De Zwaan?

Its history begins in 1818 with auctions on the Singel. It has been at Keizersgracht 474 since 1913.

Can I bid online at De Zwaan?

Yes. Registered bidders can follow and bid in the live auction online, and commission bids can be left through the online catalogue.