Services
04. Art
Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
Securing a Certificate of Authentication (COA) is crucial when considering the sale, donation for tax deductions, or insurance of any artwork. This certificate serves as confirmation that thorough research and analysis have been conducted on the artwork. It signifies that Art Experts have verified it as an original and authentic piece by a specific artist, and they stand by this determination.
The process of verifying authenticity varies depending on the artwork's characteristics and complexity. However, we may suggest the following steps:
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Physical examination of the artwork
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Technical or stylistic analysis
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Documentary research
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Scientific and forensic testing
Should you require a Certificate of Authenticity, feel free to reach out to us for a complimentary consultation with no obligation.
Appraisal Needs
Pre-Purchase Assessment: Ensuring you avoid significant overpayments before making a purchase.
Valuation Services: Providing approximate values for your own information and understanding.
Insurance Coverage: Listing your artworks with detailed information for accurate replacement value in case of loss or damage.
Moving and Shipping Insurance: Securing insurance coverage during transportation to safeguard against potential damages.
Insurance Claims Assistance: Supporting you in navigating insurance claims processes efficiently.
Divorce Proceedings: Assessing the value of art assets for equitable distribution during divorce proceedings.
Tax-Deductible Donations: Determining the value of donated artworks for tax deduction purposes.
Gifts and Bequests: Evaluating the worth of artworks being gifted or passed down through inheritance.
Estate Planning: Incorporating art valuations into comprehensive estate planning strategies.
Estate Valuation: Essential for understanding the overall worth of an estate before distribution or sale.
Distribution Planning: Ensuring compliance with will specifications or equitable distribution requirements.
Estate Sales: Facilitating the sale of artworks as part of estate liquidation processes.
Tax Valuations: Providing valuations for tax reporting purposes.
Inventory Management: Assisting galleries, dealers, and art professionals in maintaining accurate inventory records.
Fraud Detection: Identifying discrepancies and misrepresentations in art valuations to prevent fraud.
Import and Export Compliance: Ensuring adherence to legal requirements by accurately stating values during import and export processes.
Liquidation Services: Assisting with the sale or liquidation of artworks when necessary.
Pre-Sale Estimates: Offering insights into expected sale prices before engaging with auctioneers or galleries.
Legal Support: Providing valuation expertise for various legal situations, including damage assessments and authenticity verification.
Multispectral Imaging
We employ a diverse range of specialized photography techniques to delve beneath the surface layer of a painting, including:
Visible Photography: This provides images of the artwork, serving as a baseline for comparison with other multi-spectral representations.
Raking Light: By casting light at an angle, this method documents surface topography and painting techniques, such as craquelure and brushwork.
Ultraviolet Fluorescence: Traditional or older varnishes emit a different color under ultraviolet radiation compared to retouches, aiding in distinguishing between original and altered areas.
Ultraviolet Reflected: Reflected ultraviolet light reveals fading ink and prints.
Digital Infrared Reflected: This reveals underdrawings and alterations in paintings.
Infrared False Color: By merging visible and infrared images, this technique highlights different materials and retouches in false color.
Infrared Fluorescence: This makes substances like cadmium pigments visible.
Infrared Transmitted: By allowing better visualization of underdrawings and alterations, as well as certain opaque paint layers, this method enhances understanding.
Visible Transmitted: By contrasting transparent and opaque areas in visible light, this technique reveals layers of paint and alterations.
Infrared Reflectography: Though it offers penetration through paint layers to observe underdrawings, it requires longer processing times compared to other methods.
75 Years of Accumulated Practice
Request a Consultation
To get an appraisal on an item or to get an item certified as authentic, a consultation with our staff is required. We except virtual or in-person appointments. This is a crucial part of our process because there are certain items that we cannot accept, and certain items are discernable pre-inspection.