Certificates of authenticity: what are they for and how to get them?

What is the purpose of a certificate of authenticity and why provide this service to buyers at your sales? What should it include? Who can do it? Although we are familiar with the term, we are often less aware of what it represents and its usefulness... So in simple terms, the certificate of authenticity can be considered as the identity card or passport of a work of art, as it provides information on its qualities and authenticity, which make it intrinsically valuable and contribute to its traceability.

More precisely, it is a unique document that attests to the artist's copyright on his work, but also guarantees its authenticity to its new purchaser.
Although there is no particular formalism concerning the text or the medium of this document, it must include a certain number of elements set out in the Marcus decree of 3 March 1981, which establishes the rules on authenticity. Thus, the following information must be included
- the artist's name or pseudonym
- the title of the work, its dimensions and its photo
- the technique, materials and media used
- at least the year or precise date of production
- the identification number if the work is part of a series, in which case the number of copies made must also be specified
- the existence or not of a signature, and where appropriate its location
- the date of issue of the certificate and a signature of the artist

In the past, a signature on a work was sufficient, but with the abundance of copies and forgeries on the art market, the certificate has become almost indispensable! The certificate of authenticity is certainly not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended because it greatly enhances the value of the work and the seriousness of the artist with regard to his buyers and partners, and it reassures the buyers.

The certificate of authenticity can normally be created and issued by the artist himself, as it attests to the authenticity of the work during his lifetime, for example when one of his works is sold. But providing a certificate of authenticity ensures the authenticity of the creation and facilitates the future of the work and its identification. It is therefore offering a valuable service to its buyers and gaining credibility with its community. This is why it is strongly advised against making your own certificates of authenticity in a "home-made" way using non-specialised software, under penalty of not being valid with your buyers.

In order to meet the demands of buyers and artists, ARTactif proposes a service of writing certificates of authenticity. The work must first be registered in the ARTactif account of the artist with all the necessary descriptions correctly filled in (title of the work, date of creation, support, dimensions, technique...). It is thanks to all this information that the certificate can be completed and becomes a real proof of authenticity of the work for the buyers. Once the artist uploads his signature, he receives an official document, ready for use, which is a guarantee for customers that they are buying an original work.