Authentication is the process of establishing whether an antique or work of art is what it is claimed to be, in terms of its maker, date, origin and materials. It aims to distinguish genuine period pieces from later reproductions, marriages, heavily restored items and deliberate fakes.
Authentication draws on several kinds of evidence. Physical examination considers construction methods, tool marks, wear patterns, oxidation, patina and materials that should be consistent with the claimed period. Marks, labels, signatures and hallmarks are checked against reference works, bearing in mind that marks themselves can be faked. Provenance, including old inventories, sale catalogues, bills and photographs, can support an attribution, while scientific techniques such as thermoluminescence dating for ceramics, dendrochronology for timber and X-ray fluorescence for metals can provide further evidence. Specialist dealers, auction house experts and museum curators all play a part, and for important works an opinion from a recognised authority or catalogue raisonné may be needed. Buyers should ask for a detailed description and invoice, and reputable dealers will stand behind their attributions and describe restoration honestly.
