Care for the image.
Question the claim.
A measured approach to provenance, authentication and responsible stewardship.
Start with an evidence record.
An image’s appearance, its ownership history and its religious significance answer different questions. Getty’s documentation framework treats provenance as an object’s collecting and ownership history.[10]
Our suggested approach is to record every claim together with its source. A careful record makes uncertainty visible and gives an independent specialist something concrete to examine.
| What you have | How to record it |
|---|---|
| A visible feature | “Right hand lowered; casting seam visible on rear.” Describe before interpreting. |
| A seller or owner account | “Described by the seller as Chiang Rung, acquired in…” Preserve the attribution. |
| An independent assessment | Name the assessor, date, scope, methods and any stated limitations. |
Read the certificate, not just the seal.
Read the independent authentication guide → · Use the evidence and attribution method →
A document is useful only to the extent that it identifies the exact object and explains what has been assessed. A certificate of opinion may not establish age, findspot, legal title or an unbroken chain of ownership.
- Match photographs, dimensions and identifying marks to the object.
- Check the issuer and reference number directly with the issuing organisation.
- Read the precise claim: identity, material, age, condition or attribution.
- Record exclusions, uncertainty and the date of examination.
- Keep invoices, correspondence and earlier photographs with the record.
These checks are due-diligence prompts, not a guarantee. City of Dawn does not provide certification, appraisal or seller endorsement.
Document before you decide.
ICOM’s Object ID standard provides a useful foundation for identifying and documenting cultural objects. It includes photographs, dimensions, materials, marks and distinguishing features.[11]
Our plain-text worksheet adds fields for the source of an attribution, gaps in ownership history and independent opinions. It is designed to print or edit in any text editor and sends no information to this site.
Plain text · 4 KB or less · original City of Dawn study aid
Preserve the surface and the record.
The Canadian Conservation Institute explains that polishing removes surface material and can erase detail. Historic patinas, gilding and coatings require particular care.[12]
For an object of possible historical significance, avoid improvised chemical cleaning, scraping, re-gilding or polishing. Photograph its current condition and consult a qualified conservator about treatment. A bright surface is not automatically a better-preserved surface.
Questions before acquiring an image.
Does a green or dark surface prove age?
No. Appearance alone does not supply a reliable manufacture date. Ask what examinations and documentary evidence support the attribution.
Should I wear a fragile historic image?
Consider impact, friction, moisture and the construction of any mount. Ask a conservator to assess the particular object before exposing it to everyday wear.
What if the ownership history is incomplete?
Record the gap plainly. Ask for the supporting documents and seek independent advice before proceeding. A persuasive story does not fill a documentary gap.
Can this page confirm that an object can be exported?
No. Before a cross-border transfer, obtain current guidance from the relevant authorities in both countries for the particular object and transaction.
Do not borrow our reputation.
A seller linking to City of Dawn does not acquire our endorsement. Before paying, verify the exact object, the person offering it, its documented provenance, independent assessments and written return terms. A screenshot of a museum record or our study gallery is not a certificate for an item offered elsewhere.
See our buyer safety and impersonation guide for a practical evidence checklist.
Sources for this chapter.
- Ownership / Collecting HistoryGetty · Categories for the Description of Works of Art
- Object IDInternational Council of Museums · Documentation standard
- The Cleaning, Polishing and Protective Waxing of Brass and CopperCanadian Conservation Institute · CCI Notes 9/3