# Provenance checklist — Galleries & auction houses

Item / project: ______________________   Date: __________

## Before you start
[ ] List the items to tag, most valuable or most at risk first
[ ] Gather existing paperwork, photos and certificates for each item
[ ] Decide what information is public, shared or private
[ ] Choose tags: visible QR for discovery, secure NFC where authenticity matters

## Workflow
[ ] Tag at intake — When a work is consigned or acquired, check for an existing tag. If there is none, create an identity and attach one.
[ ] Consolidate the paper trail — Upload invoices, prior auction records, exhibition history, condition reports and expert opinions to the record.
[ ] Use it at the point of sale — A QR label next to the work lets visitors explore its story; a tap on the hidden NFC chip confirms it is the original.
[ ] Record the transfer — Log the sale and pass ownership of the record to the buyer, while keeping private details restricted.
[ ] Offer after-sale services — Use the connection to send care guidance, valuations or invitations — with the owner's permission.

## Record for each item
[ ] Consignment and acquisition documents
[ ] Prior sales and auction results
[ ] Exhibition and literature history
[ ] Condition reports with dated photos
[ ] Expert and authenticator opinions
[ ] Buyer transfer (private details restricted)

## Toolkit to have ready
[ ] Secure NFC on stretcher, frame or case
[ ] QR wall labels and catalogue entries
[ ] Shared records that consignors and buyers can view
[ ] SmartLinks for issuing identities at scale

## Check before you finish
[ ] Tag is on a reversible, non-original surface and its position is noted
[ ] Tag reads on at least one iPhone and one Android phone
[ ] Tag is locked against rewriting
[ ] Record opens from both the QR code and the NFC tag
[ ] Private details are hidden from the public view

Full guide: https://www.provenancestory.com/journeys/galleries