Provenance
The Importance of Provenance
What is provenance in relation to an important work of art?
Provenance confirms the origin or source of the artwork and the history of subsequent owners, also known as the chain of custody. Provenance also relates to the exhibition history of an important work of art.
The provenance of a fine work of art often assumes great importance; however, it’s the 'quality of provenance' that usually makes a considerable difference to the value of the artwork.
If one compared the provenance of a Monet from an obscure source vs. a work from a recognized gallery or acknowledge source, the value of the latter would far exceed the former.
Within the scope of Australian Aboriginal art, artists developed their careers either working through an exclusive gallery or their regional community’s art centre.
Throughout remote Australia, these community-owned art centres were established through local councils with the assistance of Government funding and are responsible for the development and co-ordination of artists and the exhibition of their artworks.
Community Art centre’s and exclusive representational galleries provide artists with management, financial and material support and they maintain artists’ records known as a catalogue raisonne which contain the details of all works commissioned, sold and exhibited by the artists. This catalogue raisonne forms a most important aspect of the artworks provenance.
When an Aboriginal artist produces a work 'outside' their authorized art centre or exclusive representational gallery, the 'quality of the provenance' becomes an immediate issue.
In addition to questions as to whom actually produced the work, usually the quality of the work itself is sub-standard and the materials used are not of the same high quality as supplied by the community art centre’s and exclusive representational galleries.
Gallerie Australis advocates that buyers of Australian Aboriginal art should seek independent advice about the source of artworks and the ‘quality of provenance’ when considering purchasing a valuable artwork.
Prospective collectors of Australian Aboriginal art should fully evaluate the risks of buying artworks that have been procured outside community Art centres and exclusive representational galleries that have been responsible for the evolution of these artists’ careers.
Australia's major auction houses can assist with advice on the acceptability and the 'quality of provenance' of community Art centre’s and recognized exclusive representational galleries.
What is provenance in relation to an important work of art?
Provenance confirms the origin or source of the artwork and the history of subsequent owners, also known as the chain of custody. Provenance also relates to the exhibition history of an important work of art.
The provenance of a fine work of art often assumes great importance; however, it’s the 'quality of provenance' that usually makes a considerable difference to the value of the artwork.
If one compared the provenance of a Monet from an obscure source vs. a work from a recognized gallery or acknowledge source, the value of the latter would far exceed the former.
Within the scope of Australian Aboriginal art, artists developed their careers either working through an exclusive gallery or their regional community’s art centre.
Throughout remote Australia, these community-owned art centres were established through local councils with the assistance of Government funding and are responsible for the development and co-ordination of artists and the exhibition of their artworks.
Community Art centre’s and exclusive representational galleries provide artists with management, financial and material support and they maintain artists’ records known as a catalogue raisonne which contain the details of all works commissioned, sold and exhibited by the artists. This catalogue raisonne forms a most important aspect of the artworks provenance.
When an Aboriginal artist produces a work 'outside' their authorized art centre or exclusive representational gallery, the 'quality of the provenance' becomes an immediate issue.
In addition to questions as to whom actually produced the work, usually the quality of the work itself is sub-standard and the materials used are not of the same high quality as supplied by the community art centre’s and exclusive representational galleries.
Gallerie Australis advocates that buyers of Australian Aboriginal art should seek independent advice about the source of artworks and the ‘quality of provenance’ when considering purchasing a valuable artwork.
Prospective collectors of Australian Aboriginal art should fully evaluate the risks of buying artworks that have been procured outside community Art centres and exclusive representational galleries that have been responsible for the evolution of these artists’ careers.
Australia's major auction houses can assist with advice on the acceptability and the 'quality of provenance' of community Art centre’s and recognized exclusive representational galleries.
