Authenticity and Provenance
Every original work sold by JG Contemporary comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, and every sale is recorded in our gallery register. This page explains what that documentation is, how to verify it, and what to do if it goes missing.
What you receive
A digital Certificate of Authenticity, signed by the gallery and sent to you by email. A printed copy is available on request.
We issue digitally by default because it is the version that survives. Paper gets separated from the work, filed somewhere and forgotten, or lost in a house move; a PDF can be re-sent whenever you need it, and forwarded straight to an insurer, a valuer, or a buyer.
Each certificate records:
- Artist name and year of birth
- Title, year of creation, and medium
- Dimensions, framed and unframed
- Whether the work is unique or part of an edition, with edition number and size
- Where the artist has signed the work
- A unique certificate number
- Date of acquisition and the gallery's contact details
- A signed statement of authenticity from JG Contemporary
The certificate is signed by the gallery rather than by the artist. The artist signs the artwork itself; we authenticate the sale and the provenance.
The digital certificate
The certificate is a PDF, sent to the email address used at purchase, usually within a few days of the work being dispatched. It is flattened and locked, so the details cannot be altered after issue.
If you change email address, lose the file, or need it sent somewhere else, ask us and we will reissue it. There is no limit on how many times we will do that. If you would prefer a signed copy on paper, ask and we will post one.
Limited-edition prints
Editions are supplied signed and numbered by the artist, with the edition number and total edition size marked on the work itself. That is the standard for prints and is what the trade expects.
We do not issue a certificate for editions as a matter of course, but we will provide one on request at any time, including years after purchase — just send us your order details. Every edition sale is recorded in our register whether a certificate has been issued or not.
Your certificate number
Every certificate carries a reference number unique to that work. The same number is recorded in our register alongside the artist, title, medium, date of sale, and buyer, and it is also applied to a label on the reverse of the work.
That redundancy is deliberate. If the paperwork is ever mislaid, the label on the back still points to a record we hold, and the record can be used to reissue documentation.
Verifying a certificate
If you are buying a JG Contemporary work on the secondary market, or you have inherited one and want to confirm its history, email the certificate number to jewel@jgcontemporary.com. We will confirm the work, the year of sale, and whether the certificate matches our record.
We do this for anyone, whether or not the work was bought from us directly.
If a certificate is lost
Contact us with as much detail as you have — the certificate number if you know it, otherwise the artist, title, and roughly when the work was acquired. If it matches our register we will issue a replacement, marked as such, at no cost.
Copyright
Copyright in the work remains with the artist. Buying a piece gives you ownership of the physical object; it does not transfer any reproduction rights. Photographing your own work for personal or insurance purposes is fine. Commercial reproduction, printing, or licensing requires the artist's permission, and we are happy to put you in touch.
Provenance and resale
The certificate belongs with the work. If you sell, gift, or bequeath the piece, forward the certificate to the new owner — a documented chain of ownership is what protects the work's value over time. If they would rather have a printed copy in their own name, we can issue one.
If you are reselling, let us know. We keep the register current, and in some cases we can help place the work.
Certificates issued before 2026
We introduced certificate numbering in 2026. Works sold before then were issued unnumbered certificates, which remain valid — the sale is recorded in our register either way. If you hold an earlier certificate and want a numbered replacement for insurance or resale, contact us and we will issue one.
Questions about any of this: jewel@jgcontemporary.com — 07525 143 009