Antique research
How to Photograph Antiques for a Virtual Authentication Review
Useful photographs help an antique reviewer understand what an object looks like, how it appears to have been made, and which details deserve closer examination. They are a starting point for a review, not a substitute for every kind of physical inspection or a guarantee of authenticity.
In this guide
Ask what evidence is needed before making a large file
Begin with the type of object, its approximate size, what you have been told about it, and the question you want to answer. Is the concern a maker's mark, a possible period attribution, an alteration, or the relationship between an object and an old receipt? The question helps determine which photographs and records will be useful.
The International Council of Museums describes Object ID as a standard for identifying and documenting cultural objects. A consistent descriptive record is useful preparation. However, an inventory or identification record does not itself authenticate an object, establish ownership, or determine its value.
Photograph the whole object first
Use clear, even lighting and a simple background. Take an overall image, then additional views that show the back, sides, top, and underside when those can be photographed safely. Keep the full outline visible so close details can be understood in context.
Avoid filters, automatic background effects, heavy editing, and digital zoom that makes details harder to interpret. Keep original files. A sharp phone photograph is more useful than a heavily compressed picture copied from a message. If glare hides a surface, try changing the light or camera angle rather than editing the reflection away.
Do not lift, dismantle, open, or turn over an object if doing so could damage it or put someone at risk. Explain which views are unavailable. A reviewer can then discuss whether an in person examination or specialist assistance is needed.
Build a focused detail set
- Photograph marks, signatures, labels, numbers, and inscriptions both close up and within a wider view.
- Show visible construction details, joints, fittings, fasteners, or the reverse of an artwork when accessible safely.
- Record wear, damage, repairs, missing parts, and areas that differ from the rest of the object.
- Include a measurement reference beside the object where practical, without attaching anything to a fragile surface.
- Write down dimensions and the units used; explain any measurement you could not take accurately.
- Keep separate views rather than making a collage that reduces the detail in each image.
Do not polish, scrape, remove a label, apply a chemical, or carry out a test simply to improve a photograph. If a detail is obscured, photograph it as it is and describe the problem. Ask an appropriately qualified conservator about treatment rather than experimenting during preparation.
Label observations and stories separately
An observed mark might be described as “three stamped letters on the underside.” A family account might be described as “a relative believed it was purchased in the 1940s.” Keep the distinction. A story can provide a research lead, but recording it as an established fact can misdirect the review.
Include what you know about when and where the object was obtained, any previous owners you can document, and past repairs you know about. If the history is uncertain, say so. The absence of a complete history does not by itself settle authenticity in either direction.
Attach the relevant records carefully
Receipts, old photographs, exhibition labels, correspondence, and earlier reports may help connect the object to its history. Photograph or scan each relevant record legibly and explain how you believe it relates to the object. Keep originals together and avoid writing directly on them.
The Getty Provenance Index is an example of a research resource for historical ownership and transactions. Database results still need careful comparison with the particular object. A matching description or name does not automatically establish that a record refers to your item.
Redact unrelated account numbers or other private information from copies before sharing, while preserving details needed for the review. Agree on the method for sharing sensitive records. The initial website inquiry can describe the object without including a private address or a full collection inventory.
Understand what happens after the photos are reviewed
The first review may identify useful next steps, questions that cannot be answered from images, or a need for physical examination or specialist testing. Ask what the agreed written findings will cover and how uncertainty will be expressed. Do not assume that sending photographs purchases a certificate, a valuation, or a conclusion in your favor.
Lazar & Company offers virtual antique authentication reviews and in person reviews in greater Las Vegas, subject to an agreed scope and fee. Our guide to authentication versus appraisal explains why the purpose of the review matters before work starts.