Article 1
Auction Operator
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.
- Operator
- Société Millon · RCS Paris 442 936 092
- Registered office
- 19 rue de la Grange-Batelière
75009 Paris · France
- Statutory auctioneers
- Alexandre Millon, Cécile Ritzenthaler, Mayeul de La Hamayde and the Millon team of certified commissaires-priseurs.
Article 2
Pre-Sale Estimates
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.
Article 3
Bidder Registration
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.
Article 4
Bidding
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.
Article 5
Buyer's Premium
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:
- Up to €500,000
- 26% excl. VAT · 31.20% incl. VAT
- From €500,000.01 to €2,000,000
- 22% excl. VAT · 26.40% incl. VAT
- Above €2,000,000
- 15% excl. VAT · 18% incl. VAT
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.
Article 6
Payment
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.
- Bank transfer — preferred for amounts above €1,000.
- Credit card — up to a limit fixed by Société Millon for each sale.
- Cash — up to €1,000 for residents and €15,000 for non-resident individuals, in line with French regulations.
- Cheque — only with prior written agreement and with successful collection before release.
Article 7
Collection & Storage
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.
Article 8
Export & Cultural Goods
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.
Article 9
Authenticity Guarantee
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.
Article 10
Buyer Default
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.
Article 11
Data Protection
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.
Article 12
Applicable Law
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.