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Kept & Rare

Sell with us

A thoughtful next step for your collection.

For collectors, consignors and families handling an inherited collection. We begin by listening, and we describe every object by what can actually be shown.

Start an inquiryBefore you get in touch
Hand-painted study of one blue-and-white vase: whole beside a ruler, seen from below at its plain foot ring, and magnified at a small rim chip
One object, three views: the whole piece with scale, the reverse or base, and a close detail.PL. II

The process

From first note to final settlement.

Six stages, each in writing where it matters. Nothing is accepted, valued or scheduled until we have talked it through with you.

  1. 01

    Tell us about it

    Share a short description, approximate quantity and, if you have them, a few photographs. A single piece or a full collection is welcome.

  2. 02

    A conversation

    We review what you have shared and follow up with questions. Submitting an inquiry is not an acceptance and not a valuation.

  3. 03

    Agreement and intake

    If we proceed together, terms are put in writing. Items are received, logged and stored with a recorded location.

  4. 04

    Research and cataloging

    Each object is identified, photographed whole and described with what is known, not what is hoped.

  5. 05

    Auction on HiBid

    Items are offered in a Kept & Rare catalog. Buyers register, bid and pay on HiBid.

  6. 06

    Settlement

    Settlement follows official auction results and cleared buyer payment, according to your written agreement.

Checklist

Before you get in touch

A description, approximate quantity and city/state help us review your inquiry. Photographs and documentation are optional.

Photographs help us understand what you have. They do not establish authenticity, grade or metal content, and we will not draw those conclusions from them.

  • A few clear photographs

    Front, back and any marks, labels or signatures. Whole object in frame, in daylight if you can.

  • Approximate quantity

    One piece, a box, a room. A rough count helps us plan the conversation.

  • Where the items are

    City and state, so we can talk realistically about handling and transport.

  • Documentation you already have

    Receipts, letters, grading labels or appraisals. Please share what exists; nothing needs to be created.

Hammer, share and premium

Three numbers worth keeping apart.

The hammer price is the winning bid. Your share is a percentage of that hammer price, set in your written agreement. The buyer premium is added to the buyer’s invoice and is not shared with consignors.

The diagram is illustrative. It is not a quote, a typical rate, a net payout or a fee policy; only your written agreement sets terms.

Read the consignment economics guide
How hammer price, consignor share and buyer premium relateThe buyer pays the hammer price plus the buyer premium. The consignor share is 85 to 100 percent of the hammer price under the written agreement. The buyer premium goes to Kept and Rare, not the consignor.BUYER'S INVOICE (simplified)Hammer priceBuyer premiumrate set per eventCONSIGNOR SHARE85% to 100% of hammerThe exact share is set in the written agreement.TO KEPT & RARENo consignor shareIllustrative only. Not a quote, typical rate or net payout.

Questions for your agreement

  • Which items are included
  • Your share of hammer, in writing
  • Any other charges and how they are calculated
  • Reserves, if any
  • What happens to unsold items
  • Conditions for settlement

Before you write

Guides for owners

GUIDE 01For ownersPreparing an inherited collectionWhat to do, and what not to do, in the weeks after a collection becomes your responsibility.Read GUIDE 02For ownersPhotographing objects for an inquiryClear, honest photographs with a phone: the views that help someone understand an object, and the habits that hide it.Read GUIDE 05For ownersUnderstanding consignment questions and economicsHammer price, consignor share and buyer premium, explained with an illustrative example and the questions to settle in writing.Read

Plainly stated

What we will and will not say at the start.

  • We will not quote a sale price or promise a sale date from an inquiry.
  • Consignors receive 85–100% of the hammer price and no share of the buyer premium, subject to agreed terms. The buyer premium belongs to Kept & Rare.
  • You are free to ask questions and decide not to proceed.

Ready when you are.

The inquiry takes a few minutes. Photographs are encouraged but optional.

Start an inquiryWhat we collect