Buyers decide whether to bid based on your photos and your description. A factual, transparent description builds trust, prevents disputes and helps your object sell for its true value. Follow the steps below to create a description that meets Catawiki’s standards.

Key points 

• State the facts – type of object, origin/culture, period, material.
• Be transparent about condition – point out every flaw, repair or area of wear that the photos show.
• Keep it concise – focus on what matters to buyers. Avoid repetition.
• Document what you can prove – share provenance, certificates or previous auction results.

State the facts first

• Name the object exactly (e.g. Roman bronze fibula, Art Deco diamond ring).
• Mention origin/culture and period if you know them and can justify them.
• Describe the main material and primary technique, including specific attributes or unique characteristics not captured elsewhere (e.g. hand-painted porcelain, limited edition, hand-carved wood).
• Use objective language only. Avoid words like beautiful, rare or museum-quality unless you can back them up with documentation.

Be open about condition

• Describe damage, restoration or wear clearly – for example, ‘small chip on base rim’ or ‘gilding partially rubbed on handle’.
• Use the same terms and grading you show in your photos.
• If professional restoration has been carried out, mention it.

Include provenance and documentation

• State where the object comes from if you know: ‘From a private French collection, acquired before 1980’.
• Mention any certificates, appraisals or earlier auction records.
• For CITES-sensitive materials (ivory, coral, etc.) quote the permit or exemption number.

Keep it concise and relevant

• Focus on material, technique, style, inscriptions or symbolism that make the object special.
• Do not copy long historical texts from Wikipedia or other sources.
• Do not repeat information already entered in the detail fields (dimensions, weight, etc.).

Format for easy reading

• Use short paragraphs (2–3 sentences) or bullet points.
• Write in sentence case. Avoid ALL CAPS.
• Break up long sections with subheadings if necessary.

Common mistakes to avoid

❌ Don’t use promotional or exaggerated language, e.g. “magnificent”, “rare masterpiece”, “museum-quality” — unless factually supported
✅ Instead: Stick to verifiable facts that you can prove with provenance or documentation

❌ Don’t guess the origin or period
✅ Instead: Say ‘origin unknown’ or leave it out entirely if you can’t reasonably support it

❌ Don’t hide flaws in the photos
✅ Instead: Photograph and describe every flaw clearly, e.g. “small chip on base rim”, “gilding partially rubbed on handle”

❌ Don’t reference prices on other platforms
✅ Instead: Let buyers decide the value — avoid comparisons like “retails for €5,000” or “worth more at Sotheby’s”

❌ Don’t add external contact details, personal names or business references
✅ Instead: Keep all communication on Catawiki to protect both buyer and seller

❌ Don’t copy historical overviews from general sources (like Wikipedia)
✅ Instead: Focus your description on the object itself — its material, technique, symbolism or features

❌ Don’t repeat information already filled in the listing fields
✅ Instead: Use the description to add context or detail, not to duplicate dimensions or materials

❌ Don’t invent provenance or certificates
✅ Instead: Only include what you can prove or reasonably declare (especially for CITES-sensitive items like ivory or coral)

❌ Don’t write in ALL CAPS or long, unbroken text blocks
✅ Instead: Use sentence case and break up your description for easy scanning

If you still need help, contact us.