Choosing an Art Authentication Service

Why the choice of authority matters

Art authentication services are not interchangeable. For most artists, the market recognises a small number of authorities whose opinion carries weight, and an opinion from anyone else, however well qualified, may have little effect on how a work is received by auction houses, dealers or insurers. Before choosing who will authenticate art, a collector needs to find out whose opinion counts for that particular artist.

The usual starting point is the catalogue raisonné, the scholarly catalogue of an artist's known works. If one exists or is in preparation, its author or committee is often the authority the market looks to. Resources such as those of the Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association can help establish whether a catalogue exists and who is responsible for it. Where there is none, the recognised authority may be an estate, a foundation, or a scholar widely acknowledged as the specialist on the artist.

The main types of authentication service

Authentication is offered by several kinds of body, and each provides something different. Knowing which kind is being approached, and what it can and cannot deliver, avoids paying for an opinion that will not answer the question the collector actually has.

Independence and conflicts of interest

An authentication opinion is only as useful as the independence of the person giving it. Before engaging anyone, a collector should understand who is paying, whether the expert buys or sells works by the artist, whether they have any relationship with the seller or a prospective buyer, and whether their fee depends in any way on the outcome. A fee that rises if the work is found to be genuine is a serious warning sign.

Independence also means the expert must be free to reach an unwelcome conclusion. Owners sometimes seek opinions until they find a favourable one; the market is generally aware of this, and an opinion that contradicts the recognised authority rarely settles the question. It is usually better to approach the recognised authority first, with a well-prepared submission.

What an opinion is and what it is not

An authentication opinion is an expert judgement based on the evidence available at the time. It is not a warranty, not an insurance policy, and not binding on other experts or on the market. Opinions can be revised when new evidence emerges, and some authorities decline to give reasons for their decisions.

Many foundations and committees ask the submitter to sign an agreement before they consider a work. These agreements commonly limit the authority's liability and may restrict how its decision can be used, including a decision not to include the work. Reading that agreement carefully, and having a lawyer review it for a significant work, is part of choosing a service rather than an afterthought.

A negative or inconclusive result is also an outcome to plan for. Some bodies keep records of the works they have reviewed, and a work that has been declined may be harder to sell afterwards than one that was never submitted. That is not a reason to avoid authentication, but it is a reason to submit carefully and with the strongest possible documentation.

Costs and practicalities

Fees vary widely and are structured in different ways. Some authorities charge a fixed submission fee, some charge for the time involved, and some charge nothing but have long waiting lists or limited review windows. Scientific analysis is typically priced by the number and type of tests, and sampling, specialist interpretation and a written report may each add to the cost.

The indirect costs can be larger than the fee. A work may need to travel to the authority or the laboratory, which means specialist packing, shipping and insurance, and it may be away for an extended period. That matters if a sale, a loan or a move is planned.

Questions to ask an authentication service

A strong submission starts before any service is contacted. The provenance file, exhibition and publication history, good photographs of the front, back and any inscriptions, and any earlier opinions should be assembled first, because an authority can only assess the evidence it is given.

Before submitting, a collector should be able to answer the following questions, in writing where possible.