AUTHENTICITY OF A SCULPTURE THE ROLE OF THE CERTIFICATE
The certificate: a record that stays with the sculpture
When a sculpture leaves the artist to join the person who has chosen it, the certificate of authenticity provides a lasting record of its identity and origin. It clearly states which work it is, who created it and, in the case of a limited edition, which numbered example it is.
Its appearance is generally understated, but the information it contains is important. It remains associated with the sculpture over the years, including when ownership changes.
For this reason, a certificate should not be regarded as a mere formality provided at the time of acquisition.
A true identity card
A good certificate should make it possible to identify precisely the sculpture to which it relates. It naturally includes the artist’s name and the title of the work, as well as its characteristics: year of creation, material, dimensions and, in the case of a limited edition, the number of the example and the total number planned.
The designation EA identifies an artist’s proof. The date and signature of the person issuing the certificate complete this information. A photograph may also be included, making identification even more immediate.
Taken separately, each of these details may seem insignificant. Brought together in a single document, they provide a precise reference that can be consulted long after the acquisition.
The certificate and the sculpture must correspond
In the case of an original bronze, some information already appears directly on the sculpture. The artist’s signature and the numbering identify, in particular, its place within an edition.
The certificate therefore does not replace these markings. It records them, supplements them and links them to the other characteristics of the work.
There must naturally be a perfect match between the two. If, for example, the bronze is numbered 4/8, the accompanying certificate must identify the same example.
For a clearer understanding of the numbering system and the status of an original edition, the article What is an original sculpture? explains these points in greater detail.
A document that becomes more important over time
When a sculpture is purchased directly from the artist, there is generally no doubt about its origin. At that point, the certificate may seem almost secondary. It is often only several years later that its value becomes much more apparent.
A sculpture may be passed on to one’s children, given away, resold or included in an estate. The original owner knows its history; the next owner may not.
Het certificaat zorgt ervoor dat de informatie waarmee de sculptuur kan worden geïdentificeerd, samen met de sculptuur wordt doorgegeven. Het kan ook nuttig zijn wanneer een verzekeraar of deskundige informatie over het werk vraagt.
The invoice should also be kept, but it serves a different purpose: it provides proof of purchase, whereas the certificate provides information about the sculpture itself.
A certificate is only as reliable as the person who issues it
The mere existence of a document bearing the words “certificate of authenticity” is obviously not enough to make a sculpture authentic. It is also necessary to know who issued it and to check that the information it contains corresponds to the work concerned.
When the certificate is issued and signed directly by the artist, its origin is particularly clear. In other situations, especially with an older sculpture or one that has been resold several times, the provenance of the document and the identity of its issuer become more important.
For this reason, the certificate should always be considered together with the sculpture it accompanies, rather than as an independent document that would be sufficient on its own.
Alain Choisnet’s certificates of authenticity
Original sculptures acquired directly from Alain Choisnet are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. It contains the information needed to identify the work and the individual example concerned.
This document is intended to remain with the sculpture. Keeping it carefully, together with the purchase invoice, will ensure that information about its origin and characteristics is preserved over time.