Historical documentation refers to the written and visual records that relate to an antique, such as original bills of sale, makers' invoices, inventories, letters, auction catalogues, photographs, exhibition labels and family papers. Together these records help to establish when, where and for whom an object was made, and how it has passed down to the present.
Good documentation can transform the interest and value of a piece. A chair that can be matched to an entry in a country house inventory, or a commode traced through the account books of a known cabinetmaker, carries a story and a degree of certainty that an undocumented example cannot. Archives of firms such as Gillows have allowed many pieces to be identified in this way. Collectors and dealers should retain all paperwork, including receipts, restoration records and condition reports, as these become part of an object's history. It is also important to treat documentation critically: labels can be transferred, photographs may show a similar rather than identical object, and family traditions are not always reliable. Where possible, documentary evidence should be checked against the object itself and against independent sources.
