- Location: 21 Washington St, Nantucket, MA 02554, US
- Contact: 508-228-3942
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
- Website: rafaelosonaauction.com
Auction days at Rafael Osona Auctions in Nantucket are an excellent opportunity to grab good quality items and rare collectibles sourced from Nantucket and the larger U.S. at sliced-down prices. There’s virtually everything for everyone at these themed auctions, with personable service for first-time and experienced auction participants alike. The auctioneer mainly deals in art and antiques. Still, you’ll also find jewelry, real estate, vehicles, gaming machines, and household items, among other items.
The business housed on 21 Washington Street has been in operation since 1980. Rafael, the founder, comes from a lineage of relic enthusiasts, and this influenced his path into the fine art and antiques auction business. His wife and two sons are part of a seven-member full-time team that collaborates in the running of the business. The staff handles everything from scheduling auction events, phone biddings, cataloging, shipment consignations, and providing regular Auction News updates on the firm’s website and social pages.
Rafael Osona Auctions organizes numerous themed auctions throughout the year comprising Marine, Christmas Stroll, Late Summer, Designer, Decorative Arts, and Americana, Fine Art, & Décor Auctions. An intense Cash & Carry marketplace event spanning 10-19 days at the Auction showroom is a popular event with customers. The auctioneer also organizes private sales as an alternative to public auctions for buyers and sellers seeking discretion.
Sellers with varied needs, from new and established artists selling their fine art to property owners wishing to liquidate their property, are guaranteed a fair buck by the firm’s appraisers and auctioneers. It is common for auction price records for featured artwork to be regularly smashed, underscoring the attractiveness and competitiveness the auctions create for sellers and bidders alike.
Customers can participate in auctions in-person or virtually, either by phone or filling out an absentee form on the auctioneer’s website. The auction attracts buyers worldwide, and the absentee bidding option provides a convenient way for customers far and wide to participate in the bidding. However, the in-person experience is simply incomparable, and many customers opt to attend the action-packed auctions in the flesh.
Rafael Osona Auctions also features a ‘Buy it Now’ online marketplace on its website that runs year-round. You can seamlessly shop for dozens of ready-priced items with product details included and information on whether the sellers would entertain lower offers.
Item payment includes the buyer’s premium, sales tax, and associated hammer prices on the auction date. The auctioneer accepts different forms of payment for both physical and online transactions, including cash, check, and wire transfers. Given the nature of transactions, the auctioneer may request detailed customer identification and longer waiting times for first-time buyers.
In addition to its auction events, Rafael Osona Auctions continues to contribute to community development programs in Nantucket, an initiative it has participated in for over 25 years. The firm partners with non-profits in its line of service, such as the Nantucket Historical Association and Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum, and non-related organizations, such as A Safe Place Nantucket and Nantucket Boys & Girls Club.