Two identical paintings can differ in value by half — the difference is the paper trail. Provenance is the biography of an artwork, and buyers pay for certainty.
A strong chain runs from the studio through galleries, exhibitions and documented sales to today. Exhibition labels, catalogue numbers and old invoices each add a link. Gaps during 1933–1945 receive special scrutiny under international restitution standards.
Our research desk traces every consigned work through sale records, archives and foundations before cataloguing. When gaps remain, we say so plainly — transparency is worth more than a perfect story.
Key takeaways
1. Keep every receipt, certificate and photo of your works.
2. Record exhibition labels before reframing.
3. Ask for the full provenance before bidding high.
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Questions about bidding, consigning or a work you own? We reply within one business day.
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