The following conditions govern every public auction organised by Société Millon, a French auction operator regulated by the Conseil des Maisons de Vente. By registering as a bidder, you acknowledge having read and accepted these terms in their entirety.
Sales are organised by Société Millon, an opérateur de ventes volontaires declared to the Conseil des Maisons de Vente, in accordance with Articles L.321-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code.
Estimates printed in the catalogue or published online are provided for information only. They reflect the experts' opinion of the likely market value at the time the catalogue is prepared and are not binding on Société Millon. Reserves, when fixed by the consignor, never exceed the low estimate.
Lots are sold « as is », in their state at the time of the sale. Bidders are encouraged to inspect each lot during the public exhibition or to request a condition report before placing a bid.
Any person wishing to bid must register with Société Millon and provide a valid identification document together with proof of address, in line with the anti-money-laundering obligations set out in Articles L.561-1 et seq. of the French Monetary and Financial Code. A bank reference may also be requested.
Société Millon reserves the right to refuse registration or to require a deposit before issuing a bidder number, without having to justify its decision.
Bids may be placed in the saleroom, by telephone, by absentee bid, or live online via our partner platforms. The auctioneer holds full discretion to set bidding increments, to refuse any bid, to reopen the bidding in the event of a dispute, and to withdraw or recombine lots.
The highest bidder accepted by the auctioneer is the buyer. The fall of the hammer marks the conclusion of the contract of sale between the buyer and the consignor, with Société Millon acting in the name and on behalf of the consignor.
In addition to the hammer price, the buyer pays a buyer's premium calculated on the hammer price of each lot, plus VAT at the applicable rate. The standard premium for sales held in France is:
For online-only or themed sales, premium rates may be specified in the relevant catalogue. Lots subject to import VAT or to the droit de suite bear the corresponding additional charges, indicated in the catalogue with the symbols defined therein.
Payment is due in euros, immediately upon the fall of the hammer. Property in the lot does not pass until the price and premium have been received in cleared funds.
Risk in the lot passes to the buyer at the fall of the hammer. Buyers are required to collect lots within fourteen (14) calendar days of the sale. After this period, lots may be transferred to a third-party warehouse at the buyer's exclusive expense and risk.
Société Millon may, on request, organise packing and shipping through carefully selected partners. Such services are billed separately and travel at the buyer's risk.
Certain lots may be subject to French and European cultural-goods regulations and require an export licence or a passport for cultural property. Société Millon assists buyers with the relevant paperwork; however, the granting of any licence remains at the sole discretion of the competent authorities and does not affect the buyer's obligation to pay.
Endangered species (CITES), ivory, certain firearms and weapons are sold subject to the specific provisions noted in the catalogue. Buyers are responsible for compliance with applicable import rules in their own country.
Société Millon guarantees the authenticity of every lot unconditionally described in the catalogue, in accordance with Articles L.321-17 of the French Commercial Code. The guarantee applies for five (5) years from the date of the sale, except for implicit limitations expressed in the catalogue (works « attributed to », « in the manner of », etc.), which carry their own qualified meaning.
In the event of late payment, Société Millon may, after a formal notice has remained without effect, apply default interest at the legal rate plus three (3) points, claim reasonable enforcement costs, and either resell the lot « on folle enchère » (Article L.321-14 of the Commercial Code) or cancel the sale. The defaulting buyer remains liable for the difference between the original hammer price and any lower price obtained on resale, together with the related costs.
Personal data collected during the registration and sale process is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Bidders may exercise their GDPR rights by writing to dpo@millon.com.
These conditions are governed by French law. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with a sale shall fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Paris, France, subject to mandatory rules of jurisdiction applicable to consumers.
Should any provision be held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
Last updated: May 2026. The French version of these conditions prevails in case of any divergence of interpretation.
