Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Lee · 21st May 2012, 08:12 AM

I'll definitely agree with the observation "that in most cases a provenance is worth nothing." Some provenances may be interesting and informative and should be retained and passed along as anecdote, but all eventually must be taken with a forklift load of salt. The gold standard will be items with clear photographs that have been publicly published. This rarely achieved standard can protect somewhat against recent forgeries and faked-up 'enhancements,' but there have been a lot of duds in good collections - public and private - that go unrecognized as such for a very long time. And how many of us have items in our collections that we remain unsure of? We may honestly discuss our suspicions with fellow collectors and collect expert opinions yea and nay but these observations and suspicions are rarely written down to assist whoever ultimately handles the estate.

21st May 2012, 08:12 AM	#13
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Buy the item for what is before you; the story is peripheral I'll definitely agree with the observation "that in most cases a provenance is worth nothing." Some provenances may be interesting and informative and should be retained and passed along as anecdote, but all eventually must be taken with a forklift load of salt. The gold standard will be items with clear photographs that have been publicly published. This rarely achieved standard can protect somewhat against recent forgeries and faked-up 'enhancements,' but there have been a lot of duds in good collections - public and private - that go unrecognized as such for a very long time. And how many of us have items in our collections that we remain unsure of? We may honestly discuss our suspicions with fellow collectors and collect expert opinions yea and nay but these observations and suspicions are rarely written down to assist whoever ultimately handles the estate.