Droit de Suite
Droit de Suite - the Artist's Resale Right

Droit de Suite is a royalty payable to a qualifying artist or the artist's heirs each time a work is re-sold during the artist's lifetime and for a period up to 70 years following the artist's death. It was introduced in the UK with effect from 14 February 2006. Currently, it only applies to the works of living artists. In 2012, Droit de Suite will be extended to apply to an artist's works for a period of 70 years after the artist's death.

Following the introduction of the Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 on 14 February, Christie's has decided an amount equal to the resale royalty will be collected from the buyer of a work of art covered by these Regulations. This will then be passed to the relevant collecting agency.

Royalties will be calculated using a sliding scale of percentages of the sale price, net of tax. For auction companies, the sale price is the hammer price (i.e., the price without the premium). However, the total amount of royalty on any one sale or lot shall not exceed €12,500. Resale royalties are not subject to VAT. Resale royalty does not apply when the hammer price is less than €1,000.


% of Royalty Portion of the
hammer price
(in €) 		Example 1:
Hammer price of €80,000 		Example 1:
Calculation of royalty 		Example 2:
Hammer price of €2,500,000 		Example 2:
Calculation of royalty
4.00% Up to 50,000 €2,000 €50,000 @ 4% €2,000 €50,000
@ 4%
3.00% 50,001 - 200,000 €900 (€80,000 -
€50,000) @ 3% 		€4,500 €150,000
@ 3%
1.00% 200,001 -
350,000 		N/A N/A €1,500 €150,000
@ 1%
0.50% 350,001 -
500,000 		N/A N/A €750 €150,000
@ 0.5%
0.25% Over 500,000 N/A N/A €5,000 €2,000,000
@ 0.25%
Total royalty due > €2,900 €13,750**

** Maximum amount payable is €12,500, which will be the amount due - not €13,750
Invoices continue to be issued in Pounds Sterling. For the purposes of calculating the resale royalty, the Pounds Sterling/Euro rate of exchange will be the European Central Bank reference rate on the date of the sale.

Each time you bid on a lot covered by the ARR, you agree to pay an amount equal to the resale royalty, if you are the successful bidder. This amount will be added to your invoice. Our Conditions of Sale have been amended accordingly.