The Shibunkaku Sale is our original vehicle where you can bid on and acquire artworks. Taking advantage of our client base of over 10,000 Japanese artwork collectors, we are privileged to offer high-quality Japanese artworks
to you before these go on the market.
At Shibunkaku Sale, we select and valuate works on consignment based on our specialists’ thorough investigation.
The online catalog offers a unique and exciting online browsing and bidding experience, which benefits from the internet technology, in particular excellent photographic resolution and presentation.
Follow our basic guide, you are welcome to browse and bid on art works on the online catalog.

Kindly complete and submit the Bidding Form before the Bid-closing Date.
Once your bidding is confirmed, our system shall send you an automatic confirmation email. Kindly check your email inbox for the bidding confirmation.

●　Please note that your bidding cannot be processed if your Bidding Form is regarded incomplete.

●　The bid increment is 1,000 JPY. You may place your preferred bid amount – equal to or greater than the low estimate – on your interested lots.

●　Bid amount below the low estimate is invalid.
Kindly note that we do not process bidding over telephone nor via email.

Condition Report

Please inspect the condition of the items you may be interested in before placing any bid on. All lots being offered for sale can be viewed at our gallery during the auction period.
Our specialists are happy to provide you in-depth condition reports on any item of your interest if you are unable to visit and view.
Kindly contact us should you require any assistance.

Buyer’s Premium

Kindly note that we charge a buyer’s premium for each item purchased in addition to the hammer price. This is calculated at the flat rate of 20% on the hammer price up to 1 million JPY, and at the rate of 15% on the exceeding amount on the hammer price over 1 million JPY (please refer to examples below). Buyer’s premium is also subject to the VAT at the standard rate of 10%.

Example 1. Total price in the case of the hammer price of 500,000 JPY

Example 2. Total price in the case of the hammer price of 3,000,000 JPY

On changing bid amount and retreating biddings

You may change your bid amount or retreat your bidding before the bid-closing date.
Changes shall be transacted in written forms via post, fax or email (change@shibunkaku.co.jp).

* Kindly note that we do not process any oral request regarding bidding changes.

* Bid Retractions, or changes to bidding amount after the Bid-Closing Date are not allowed.

●　The bid opening is not open to the public.

●　Clients who outbid others become successful bidders.

●　In the case of more than one highest-price bidders, the earliest bidder in our records become the successful bidder.

●　Bids placed after the bid-closing date are invalid.

We inform all bidders the auction result by post. The result can also be viewed on our website.

Kindly note that biddings cannot be retreated after the bid-closing time.
However, under exceptional circumstances, we allow bid retractions on a penalty of 20% of the bidding price of the lot.

If your bid is successful, you can make payment by wire transfer, cash or credit card.
Please make payment before the specified due date.

●　Please contact us in advance should you wish to make your payment with cash in person.

●　Kindly note that the wire transfer service fee shall be borne by the client.

●　We accept payments by credit card. (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club and Union Pay)
NOTE: Credit card payment is limited to card holder’s payment at the gallery.

Once your payment is confirmed, we shall arrange the delivery of the works to you.
Unless otherwise specified in the Bidding Form, all lots will be shipped to our clients.

On shipping cost

Domestic shipping cost will be covered by us.
International shipping cost shall be borne by the clients. We shall contact you regarding the shipping quote and procedure.

Collecting your items at our offices

●　Please contact us in advance should you prefer to collect your items in person at one of our offices.

●　Kindly bring your wire transfer confirmation receipt, should you have made your payment via wire transfer before your visit.

1. Only biddings received by post, fax or through our online bidding system will be processed. Oral and telephone biddings, or biddings via email are invalid.

2. Bids must be placed in Japanese Yen and the bid increment is 1,000 JPY.

3. Buyer’s Premium
We charge a Buyer’s premium for each item purchased in addition to the hammer price.

Buyer’s premium is also subject to the VAT at the standard rate of 10%.

4. Bid Retractions, or changes to bidding amount after the Bid-Closing Date are not allowed.

5. When placing a bid, the bidder is accepting personal liability to pay the total price, including the Buyer’s premium and all applicable taxes, plus all other applicable charges such as shipping cost and insurance.

6. The successful bidder must pay the full amount due immediately after the sale.
Should the successful bidder fails to make the full payment within the given period, we shall have the right to exercise a number of legal rights and remedies. These include, but are not limited to the following:

1) to charge 20% of the bidding price

2) to cancel the sale

3) to reject at any future auction any bids placed by the bidder

* It is a violation of the law to place bids or cause bids to be placed on any lot for the purpose of artificially increasing the price, or otherwise manipulating the bidding process or the bid price of any lot.

* Although we shall use reasonable efforts to take care when handling, packing and shipping a purchased lot and in selecting third parties for these purposes, we are not responsible for the acts or omissions of any such third parties.