Understanding your collection
Antique Authentication vs. Appraisal: What Each Can Tell You
“Is it authentic?” and “What is it worth?” are different questions. Before commissioning a review of an antique, identify the decision you need to make and the kind of evidence or report that decision requires. This can prevent you from paying for a service that does not answer the question in front of you.
In this guide
Authentication considers identity and attribution
An authentication review may examine whether an object is consistent with a claimed maker, period, origin, or method of manufacture. Depending on the object and scope, relevant evidence may include construction, materials, marks, documentation, and comparison with reliable references.
The question must be specific. An object could be old without being by the maker named in a listing. A signature could require separate examination. A later repair could affect part of an otherwise older object. A careful review distinguishes what was examined, what the evidence supports, and what remains uncertain.
An appraisal addresses value for a defined purpose
An appraisal concerns a value opinion for a stated purpose and context. The intended use matters: an owner comparing sale options may need different work from a person seeking a report for an insurer or another formal purpose. A casual price suggestion should not be treated as interchangeable with a report prepared for a particular intended user.
The Appraisal Foundation’s explanation of USPAP provides background on professional appraisal standards. When a third party requires an appraisal, ask that party what qualifications, scope, and report it will accept, then discuss those requirements with an appropriately qualified appraiser. Lazar & Company's authentication service is separate from a formal appraisal or market valuation.
Provenance and condition add context
Provenance concerns an object's ownership and transaction history. An old invoice, a documented collection record, or a photograph may provide a useful connection. Each document still needs to be assessed in relation to the particular object. A similar description, a familiar family story, or an attractive label is not conclusive on its own.
The Getty Provenance Index provides historical research material that can support an investigation. Research may also reveal gaps or conflicting descriptions. Keep those gaps visible rather than filling them with assumptions.
Condition is another question: what damage, repair, restoration, replacement, or alteration can be identified? Condition can influence interpretation and value, but a condition observation does not automatically authenticate an object. Conservation or treatment advice may require a separate specialist.
Match the service to the question
| Question | Work to discuss | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Is this consistent with the claimed maker or period? | Scoped authentication research or specialist examination | The evidence may remain inconclusive |
| Who previously owned this object? | Provenance research | Records may be incomplete or refer to another object |
| Has this object been repaired or altered? | Condition examination | Some changes require specialist inspection or testing |
| What value should a report address? | Appraisal for an identified purpose | The intended user may have specific acceptance requirements |
| What photographs should I provide first? | Initial evidence preparation | Photographs cannot answer every physical question |
Several kinds of work may be needed for one object. Agree on the sequence so you know which service you are buying first, what it produces, and whether another step needs separate authorization.
Questions to ask before paying for a review
- What exact question will the engagement address?
- What relevant object category expertise can the reviewer confirm?
- Will the work use photographs, a physical examination, records, or specialist testing?
- What written findings or report will I receive?
- How will limitations, uncertain conclusions, and contrary evidence be explained?
- What is the fee, and which additional work requires approval?
- If a third party needs the result, have I confirmed that it will accept this type of work?
Avoid treating a promised positive answer as a qualification. A responsible engagement leaves room for the evidence to support, weaken, or fail to resolve an attribution. Clarify any interest the provider has in buying or selling the object before commissioning work.
Prepare a useful first inquiry
Start with a general description, the claimed attribution if there is one, the available history, and what you want to establish. Our antique photography guide explains how to prepare clear overall views, details, dimensions, and relevant records without altering the object.
Lazar & Company offers antique authentication virtually and in person in greater Las Vegas. Scope, evidence, fee, and written findings are agreed before work begins. Some objects or questions may require a physical inspection or another specialist. A virtual inquiry does not guarantee that an object can be conclusively authenticated, and authentication findings are not a substitute for a separately required appraisal.