How to Buy Art at Grev Wedels Plass Auksjoner

Learn how to participate in auctions at Grev Wedels Plass Auksjoner (GWPA) – from registration to bidding and payment. This step-by-step guide ensures a smooth and secure experience throughout.

Buying art at auction can be both rewarding and exhilarating – whether you’re new to collecting or a seasoned buyer. At Grev Wedels Plass Auksjoner (GWPA), you gain access to some of Norway’s most sought-after artworks, including works by Edvard Munch and other leading artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.

We offer two auction formats:
Live auctions – traditional auctions led by an auctioneer, and
Online auctions – fully digital sales conducted without a physical event.

This guide explains how to register, place bids and collect your artwork after purchase. The process is designed to be straightforward and secure – whether you bid in person, by phone, by commission bid, or digitally via Invaluable.com.

Before the Auction: Registration and Preparation

To take part in a live auction, registration as a bidder is required in advance.

For in-room, telephone or commission bidding, registration must be received at least two hours before the auction starts.
First-time buyers must register the day before the auction and provide a bank reference.
Online bidders register via Invaluable.com.

Visit our preview at Bankplassen 1A (Oslo, Norway), explore the auction catalogue and review the conditions of sale carefully. This ensures you’re well prepared and fully informed about both the artwork and the process.

Live Auctions

Our live auctions are traditional events led by an auctioneer, and simultaneously broadcast online for remote participants. You can bid in four ways:

In the room: Collect a numbered paddle upon arrival and raise it to bid.
Commission bid: Submit your maximum bid in writing. GWPA will secure the work for you at the lowest possible price, within your limit.
Telephone bidding: Our customer services team will call you shortly before the lot is offered.
Online bidding: Place bids in real time via Invaluable.com, alongside activity in the auction room.

In the event of tied bids, the auctioneer will determine the successful bidder. All bids become binding once the hammer falls.

Online Bidding During Live Auctions

Online bidding should not be confused with online-only auctions.

You are participating digitally in a physical live auction, conducted by an auctioneer.
Bids are registered in real time, competing directly with in-room, phone, and commission bids.
The experience is dynamic and immediate – you follow each lot as it is offered and respond in the moment.

This is ideal for buyers who want to engage actively and enjoy the energy of a live sale, wherever they are in the world.

Online Auctions

GWPA’s online auctions are distinct digital sales, conducted independently of our traditional live auctions. No auctioneer is present, and the entire process takes place at gwpa.no.

Bids are placed within a defined timeframe.
Each lot has a clearly stated closing time, and bids can be increased until that point.
When the auction ends, the highest registered bid wins the lot.
You can follow bid history continuously, but without a live announcement.
To participate, you must have a registered user account with GWPA – log in via the top right corner of the site, or create an account at Log in or register.

Online auctions are ideal for buyers seeking flexibility and the freedom to bid at their own pace, with the same level of confidence and professionalism as our live sales.

Bids Below Reserve

If a lot’s reserve price is not met, the auctioneer may accept a lower bid subject to the seller’s approval. Such bids remain binding, but the sale is only confirmed once the seller has agreed.

After the Auction

Congratulations – your bid was successful!
An invoice will be emailed the day after the auction.

Please make payment within eight days via online banking.
Contact us at +47 22 86 21 86 or post@gwpa.no to arrange collection at Bankplassen 1A.
Alternatively, delivery can be arranged with a transport partner (collection deadline is 12 days).

Tips for New Buyers

Set a clear budget – and stick to it.
Submit a commission bid if you cannot attend in person.
Carefully review the work – condition, provenance, and estimate.
Keep track of upcoming auctions via our auction calendar.
Don’t hesitate to ask – we’re here to help.

FAQ: Buying at Auction

Do I need to attend in person to bid?

No. You can bid by phone, online, or by submitting a commission bid. All bids are binding once the hammer falls.

Is there a fee to register?

No. Registration is free of charge. However, first-time clients must provide a bank reference.

What if I change my mind after winning?

Bids are legally binding. You are obliged to pay for any lot you win.

Can I have the artwork shipped?

Yes. We can assist with transport and insured delivery upon request.

How do I know the artwork is authentic?

All artworks are assessed and authenticated by our in-house specialists prior to the auction.