Relic & Rarity Featured in ArtDaily: Beyond the Certificate
Published on August 21, 2026
Relic & Rarity has been featured in ArtDaily through a new article written by Jordan Thomas, Founder and Head Curator of Relic & Rarity. The article explores how provenance research, authentication, documentation, and transparent attribution help establish trust when collecting ancient artifacts.
Titled Beyond the Certificate: How Provenance and Authentication Build Trust in Ancient Artifacts, the article explains why a Certificate of Authenticity should record the research surrounding an artifact rather than serve as a substitute for that research. Certificates can vary considerably in quality, and their value ultimately depends on the evidence they preserve.
A meaningful artifact record may include detailed photographs, measurements, materials, distinguishing characteristics, condition information, previous collections, auction history, scholarly references, museum comparisons, scientific findings, and an explanation of how the attribution was reached.
The article also distinguishes between authentication, attribution, and provenance. Authentication considers whether an object is genuinely what it is represented to be. Attribution is the scholarly process of assigning an artifact to a culture, period, region, workshop, or object type. Provenance documents its history of ownership, custody, and movement through modern collections.
Although these areas frequently support one another, they answer different questions. An artifact may have a well-documented collecting history without confirming every aspect of its scholarly attribution. Likewise, an object may display convincing ancient materials and manufacturing techniques while retaining little information about its earlier ownership.
The feature outlines how researchers study an artifact’s material, construction, surface, form, iconography, corrosion, mineralization, tool marks, casting techniques, firing patterns, repairs, and other physical characteristics. These observations can then be compared with documented museum and archaeological examples to determine whether the available evidence supports the proposed identification.
Scientific examination may provide another layer of evidence when appropriate. Thermoluminescence testing, radiography, microscopy, metallurgical analysis, and radiocarbon dating can each answer specific questions, but no individual test provides a universal solution. Scientific findings are most useful when interpreted alongside provenance, stylistic analysis, material evidence, and scholarly research.
Topics covered include:
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Why a certificate is only as reliable as the evidence behind it
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The differences between authentication, attribution, and provenance
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How materials, construction techniques, and surface characteristics are studied
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Using museum collections and archaeological examples as research tools
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The role and limitations of scientific testing
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Why old labels, photographs, auction records, and invoices should be preserved
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What a well-developed artifact research record should contain
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How condition reports and restoration records support authentication
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Why responsible attribution should allow room for uncertainty
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The importance of building an ongoing research file for every artifact
The article emphasizes that even seemingly ordinary records can become important provenance evidence. A handwritten collection label, faded photograph, dealer invoice, exhibition catalogue, customs document, inventory number, or piece of correspondence may help reconstruct an artifact’s modern collecting history decades later.
Photography is also presented as an essential form of documentation. Images of an artifact’s reverse, underside, interior, inscriptions, labels, repair lines, mounting points, surface deposits, and distinguishing marks create a permanent record of its condition at a particular moment. Over time, these photographs may become part of the artifact’s provenance.
The feature further explains that responsible cataloguing should distinguish between established facts, strongly supported conclusions, and interpretations that remain uncertain. Terms such as attributed to, probably, possibly, circa, and consistent with can communicate the strength of the available evidence more accurately than an unsupported absolute conclusion.
Relic & Rarity approaches collecting as a form of temporary stewardship. Preserving old documentation, recording acquisitions, researching previous collections, documenting restoration, and passing this information to future owners all contribute to the survival of an artifact’s history.
📖 Read the Article: Beyond the Certificate: How Provenance and Authentication Build Trust in Ancient Artifacts
🏺 Learn More About Authentication and Provenance: Explore Relic & Rarity’s approach to artifact research, documentation, and certificates of authenticity
