Judging the Authenticity of Prints by The Masters:
by David Rudd Cycleback

Chapter 20 : Provenance

(c) cycleback 2003, 2005 all rights reserved

Provenance is where an item came from. Who made it, who were the owners and sellers, who else significant handled it along the way. Good documented provenance helps establish the authenticity of a print. Documentation of provenance can include sales receipts, letters about ownership and history, magazine and newspaper articles and auction catalogs. Provenance can include an expert’s letter of authenticity. Provenance does not in and of itself authenticate a print, but it can be an integral part of authentication. It is a piece in the puzzle. If a print matches the catalogue raisonne and is the correct type of paper and printing, that it comes with receipt showing it was sold by a prominent auction house will only make you more confident about the authenticity. A practical example of good provenance is buying a print from a well known and respected dealer or auction house. This is making your own good provenance. The fact that a top dealer believes the print to be genuine is significant— especially if you, as an experienced collector, agree with her verdict. Save the receipt or other documentation of sale. When you turn to resell the photo, you will have documentation that it came from a reliable source. The less knowledgeable you are about a print and artist, the more important the seller and provenance. Judging the provenance requires that you be knowledgeable about who are reputable and who are not reputable sellers and auction houses and letter of authenticity (LOA) writers. For a Salvador Dali, an LOA from internationally renown Dali Expert Albert Field is considered substantial proof of authenticity. On the other hand, a LOA from your local Xerox repairman will not hold the same weight. The collector can obtain a letter of authenticity from recognized authorities on an artist. The following are four prominent organizations. A LOA from any one of these organizations is significant evidence of authenticity. Salvador Dali: Salvador Dali Archives: www.daliarchives.com This group was founded by the famous Dali expert Albert Field (died 2003). Dali himself approved of this group. For an authentic piece, Field would give an LOA and stamp and sign the back. Andy Warhol: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. www.warholfoundation.org This institution was set up by Warhol's will and offers opinions of authenticity on Warhol’s work. Upon examination, they stamp the back of the work of art and issue a letter of opinion. Roy Lichtenstein: The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation www.lichtensteinfoundation.org Leroy Neiman: Knoedler Publishing www.leroyneiman.com Knoedler is the artist’s publisher and representative. Be aware that provenance can be faked or embellished. For every forged Rembrandt painting or George Washington autograph there has been a made up story of where it came from. Do you know why I like honest sellers? Because they’re honest. If a seller you know to be honest says he got the photograph signed by Frank Sinatra in Chicago hotel elevator, you know the seller go the photograph signed by Frank Sinatra in a Chicago hotel elevator. If he says he purchased the print from Sotheby’s, you know the print came from Sotheby’s. cycleback.com................conceits main (c) david rudd cycleback, cyclback.com all rights reserved

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