Authentication is the threshold step in Indian art and antique valuation: the valuation of an object whose identity is unestablished produces a meaningless number.
A Chola bronze whose period has not been established cannot be valued; a Husain attribution that has not been authenticated against the documented catalogue raisonné produces an estimate with no institutional standing. A2Z Valuers’ authentication protocol coordinates the specialist scientific, technical, and art-historical analysis required for each category of Indian art and antique.
Depending on the object, period, material and engagement scope, authentication may require coordinated scientific examination alongside art-historical research.
Measures the accumulated radiation dose in clay cores and ceramic materials since their last firing; produces a date of last firing, approximately the date of production.
Provides non-invasive elemental composition analysis of metals, glazes and pigments.
Organic pigment analysis used to identify historical materials associated with specific periods.
Dates organic materials such as paper, wood, ivory, textile and organic binding media.
Highly sensitive trace-element analysis of metals capable of identifying specific ore sources and production centres.
Reveals underdrawing, pentimenti, overpaint and indications of false ageing that may not be visible under ordinary light.
Scientific analysis is only one component. Significant authentication also requires the reconstruction of the object’s identity, ownership history and scholarly record.
For contemporary and modern artists, the catalogue raisonné — the comprehensive documented list of an artist’s known works — is a primary authentication tool. An established work documented in the catalogue raisonné is authenticated; an undocumented work requires deeper provenance research.
Provenance reconstructs the documented chain of ownership from the object’s creation to the present. For Indian antiques this may include ASI registration, export certificates where applicable, exhibition records, auction catalogues, dealer invoices and photographic records.
Inclusion in documented museum exhibitions and scholarly publications provides positive authentication evidence. The level of scholarly attention an object has received can contribute materially to its documented authenticity record.
For significant objects, recognised scholarly authorities in the specific tradition — including museum curators, university specialists and established market authorities — may form part of the authentication record.
Discuss the object, claimed attribution, period, provenance and statutory purpose with A2Z Valuers before proceeding with the valuation.