If you are an individual seeking to establish the authenticity of a piece in your possession, it’s important to understand the difference between art appraisals and art authentication. Both services assess the value of artwork, but they do so in different ways.

An art appraisal is a formal assessment of the value of a piece of artwork. The purpose of an appraisal is to provide insurance coverage for the owner in case the artwork is damaged, stolen, or lost. Appraisers use a variety of factors to determine the value of a piece, including its age, condition, provenance (history of ownership), and market demand.

Art authentication is the process of determining whether or not a piece of artwork is genuine. This is typically done in cases where there is some doubt as to the authorship of the piece or when the artwork in question is particularly valuable. To authenticate a piece, experts will examine its physical characteristics, provenance, and style. If necessary, they may also utilize scientific testing methods such as X-ray fluorescence and radiocarbon dating.

So, what’s the difference between art appraisals and art authentication? Art appraisals focus on determining the monetary value of a piece for insurance purposes, while art authentication strives to establish whether or not a piece is genuine. Keep these two services in mind next time you’re looking to have your artwork assessed!