Why due diligence matters
Art is bought on trust more than almost anything else of comparable value, and that trust is what fraud exploits. Doing your own checks turns a leap of faith into an informed decision — and, increasingly, the tools to do it are public and take minutes rather than weeks.
The checklist
- 1
Verify the certificate yourself
Ask for the certificate link or QR code and verify it in your own browser. Confirm the signature validates and the record is in the registry's daily anchor — no account required. A certificate you can't check independently is a claim, not proof.
- 2
Trace the chain of custody
Follow the ownership history from the artist to the seller. Look for dated events with named parties. Unexplained jumps or vague periods deserve questions before, not after, purchase.
- 3
Check how well facts are corroborated
Read the trust tier. Facts confirmed by more than one involved party are far stronger than anything resting on the seller's word alone.
- 4
Match the physical work to its record
Compare the piece in front of you with the image the certificate commits to, and check the title, year, medium, and dimensions against the record. Mismatches are a serious warning sign.
- 5
Confirm the edition details
For prints, photographs, and casts, confirm the edition size, this copy's number, and the status of any proofs. Each copy should have its own record.
- 6
Get expert eyes for high-value work
Verification catches forged paperwork and swapped images; it does not replace connoisseurship. For significant purchases, commission an independent examination of the work itself.
- 7
Put the terms in writing
Record what you were told about attribution, condition, and provenance as part of the deal, so the basis of the sale is clear if anything is later disputed.
Documents and access to ask for
- The verifiable certificate link or QR code — not just a printed copy.
- The provenance history, with dates and named parties.
- For editions: edition size, this copy's number, and proof status.
- Any exhibition history and condition or conservation records.
- Time to verify and, where warranted, to seek an independent opinion.
When to walk away
- The certificate can't be verified independently.
- You're pressured to commit before you've had a chance to check.
- The provenance has gaps the seller can't or won't explain.
- The work doesn't match the image or details on the record.
- Every important fact rests on a single party with nothing corroborated.
Verification is the floor, not the ceiling
A clean verification removes the easiest and most common frauds — that's a lot. For valuable work, treat it as the solid foundation for expert examination, not a replacement for it.