What a Certificate of Authenticity Really Proves

A certificate of authenticity is a document stating that a work of art is by the artist it is attributed to. It sounds definitive, and buyers often treat it that way. In practice, a certificate is only as reliable as the person or body that issued it, and it is one piece of evidence among several rather than proof on its own.

Who can issue a certificate

The weight a certificate carries depends almost entirely on where it comes from.

• The artist. For a living artist, a signed certificate from the artist or their studio, ideally matching the studio's own records, is the strongest form there is.
• The artist's estate, foundation or authentication committee. For many artists who have died, an official body is the recognised authority, and its opinion can decide whether the market accepts a work.
• The author of the catalogue raisonné. Where scholars are compiling the definitive list of an artist's works, inclusion is often what matters most.
• A recognised expert. For some artists, a specialist scholar is the accepted authority, and their written opinion carries weight.
• A gallery or dealer. A certificate from the gallery that sold the work is as good as that gallery's reputation, knowledge and relationship with the artist.
• The seller themselves. A certificate produced by a seller with no connection to the artist or particular expertise in their work proves very little, however official it looks.

The catalogue raisonné

A catalogue raisonné is a comprehensive, annotated list of all the known works by an artist, usually compiled by scholars over many years. Each entry typically records the title, date, medium, dimensions, provenance, exhibitions and literature for the work.

Inclusion in a catalogue raisonné is one of the strongest supports an attribution can have. Absence is less conclusive: catalogues can be incomplete, works continue to surface, and some are still in preparation. If a catalogue raisonné exists for an artist, ask whether the work is included and under what number, and check the entry against the work you are considering.

When the authorities stop authenticating

Giving opinions on authenticity carries legal risk, and some foundations have stopped doing so altogether after costly litigation. The Andy Warhol Foundation, for example, dissolved its authentication board in 2012. For artists in this position, the market relies more heavily on the catalogue raisonné, on recognised experts and on provenance.

The general lesson: find out who the recognised authority on an artist is today, and whether they still give opinions.

Prints and editions

For prints and other editions, the questions are a little different. Look for:

• the edition number, written as a fraction such as 12/50, and the total size of the edition
• proofs outside the main edition, marked AP (artist's proof), PP (printer's proof) or HC (hors commerce, not for sale)
• whether the work is signed by hand or the signature is printed as part of the image
• the publisher and printer, and any blind stamp or chop mark pressed into the paper
• a catalogue of the artist's prints, which records editions and their details

A hand-signed, numbered print from a documented edition is a very different object from an unsigned later impression or a reproduction, even when the two look alike.

Red flags

• a certificate issued by the seller, with no connection to the artist
• details on the certificate that do not match the work, such as the dimensions, medium, date or title
• a generic, template certificate with no verifiable issuer or contact details
• a certificate claiming to come from an authentication body that has closed, or that cannot be confirmed with the issuer
• a famous name, a modest price and a story that cannot be documented
• a signature offered as proof of authenticity on its own; signatures are among the easiest things to add to a work

What to do before you buy

Treat a certificate as one part of the evidence, and read it alongside the work's provenance, its condition and any literature. Where possible, contact the issuer to confirm that the certificate exists and relates to this work. For a significant purchase, consider commissioning an independent opinion from a recognised specialist or the relevant authentication body before you commit.

Authenticity on Meridian's

Meridian's does not authenticate works or provide valuations. Where sellers provide them, listings show who issued a certificate of authenticity, a link to the certificate, the status of any authentication committee and catalogue raisonné references, together with the work's provenance and condition. That information is the seller's own. The AI research consultant on each listing can help you find out whether a catalogue raisonné or authentication body exists for the artist and what has been published about them, and you can message the seller to ask for any document you need to see. For a broader checklist, see How to Research a Work of Art Before You Buy It.