Provenance StoryTag an item
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Provenance for galleries & auction houses

Every sale is a chance to strengthen — or lose — an object's history. A connected record turns each transaction into lasting, checkable provenance.

The problem

Step by step

  1. 01

    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.

  2. 02

    Consolidate the paper trail

    Upload invoices, prior auction records, exhibition history, condition reports and expert opinions to the record.

  3. 03

    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.

  4. 04

    Record the transfer

    Log the sale and pass ownership of the record to the buyer, while keeping private details restricted.

  5. 05

    Offer after-sale services

    Use the connection to send care guidance, valuations or invitations — with the owner's permission.

What to record

  • — 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

  • — 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

Practical checklist

Apply this to your own items

Download checklist

Before you start

Workflow

Record for each item

Toolkit to have ready

Check before you finish

Go deeper: choosing NFC chips, QR vs NFC, Digital Product Passports and the provenance glossary.

Other journeys: Artists & studios, Collectors & estates, Clubs, athletes & authenticators, Luxury brands & makers.

Sources

  1. [1] Directive (EU) 2018/843 — Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive

    Art traders and intermediaries in transactions of €10,000+ are obliged entities

    Last verified:

  2. [2] Art Basel & UBS, Survey of Global Collecting 2026

    58% of HNW collectors used online resources; 22% used apps and AI tools (4% in 2024)

    Last verified:

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Give your collection a digital identity

SmartLinks connects physical objects to a living digital record — one identity per item, readable by QR or NFC, with ownership history, documents and media that travel with it.

Questions

Frequently asked

Does a tag replace due diligence?+

No. It makes due diligence faster by keeping the evidence in one place, but checks such as stolen-art databases and anti-money-laundering procedures still apply.

What if a consigned work already carries someone else's tag?+

Scan it and review the existing record. A good provenance system lets you continue the same record rather than starting over, so the history stays unbroken.

Can we use tags in auction catalogues?+

Yes. A QR code beside a lot can open the full provenance record, images and condition report, which is useful for online and phone bidders.