A certificate of authenticity is the document galleries, collectors, insurers, and appraisers expect to accompany an artwork. A credible COA contains the artist's name, the artwork's title, year, medium, dimensions, edition number where relevant, and the artist's signature and date.
Common mistakes include vague descriptions, missing edition information, unsigned certificates, template leftovers, and issuing duplicates. A COA also anchors an artwork's provenance chain, and documented history strengthens resale value.
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