Why this matters
Catalogs, invoices, stock numbers, archived listings and seller records. A responsible collector asks whether the object is authentic, whether it left its source jurisdiction lawfully, whether it entered the destination lawfully and whether the seller has good title.
Core checks
- Verify old entries depict the same object.
- Record lot numbers and dates.
- Ask for previous invoices.
Document the analysis
Retain searches, correspondence, legal references, permits, translations, invoices, photographs, catalog entries and warranties. Record the date each online system was checked.
When professional help is justified
Use qualified counsel and customs specialists for high-value, recently surfaced, conflict-zone, funerary, Indigenous, architectural or nationally protected material.
Legal notice: This page is educational, not legal advice. Cultural-property rules change and can depend on facts not visible in a listing.