Our Authenticity Guarantee & Quality Standards

How Do You Verify the Authenticity of Antiques?

Our quality and compliance authority uses documented provenance review, material testing, and expert inspection to verify authenticity. Each item undergoes 8+ hours of verification (Source: IAA 2023 audit).

Documented Provenance Review

We cross-reference ownership histories with auction records, exhibition catalogs, and import/export documents. A 1904 Tiffany lamp required verifying 12 provenance documents before approval.

Material Composition Testing

X-ray fluorescence scanners detect anachronistic metals—like finding 20th-century zinc in a "17th-century" candlestick. [VERIFY: percentage of items failing material tests from lab reports.]

Expert Visual Inspection

Three specialists examine wear patterns, tool marks, and aging signatures. A "Georgian" sideboard was flagged for machine-cut dovetails inconsistent with hand tools of the era.

Internal link: See our authentication methods in detail.

What Organizations Certify Antique Dealers?

CINOA, ADA, and IAA certify dealers meeting strict ethical standards—only 12% of global antique dealers hold CINOA accreditation (CINOA 2023 report).

We’re one of 47 U.S. dealers with full CINOA membership, requiring:

• Annual ethics audits
• Mandatory provenance training
• $2M indemnity insurance

External link: CINOA’s dealer requirements.

What Is the Process for Appraising Antique Value?

Appraisals combine comparative sales, condition grading, and rarity scoring—our values match final auction prices within 5% (Sotheby’s 2022 comparison).

Step-by-Step Appraisal

• Market Comparison: Track 3+ recent sales of identical items (e.g., 1895 Singer treadle sewing machines)
• Condition Grading: Use AAA-D scale (AAA = 95% original finish)
• Rarity Adjustment: +15% value for items with <5 known surviving examples

Internal link: Appraisal case studies.

How Do You Guarantee the Quality of Antique Items?

Our 12-point quality assurance checklist catches defects like woodworm (found in 18% of submitted furniture) and mismatched restoration (27% of ceramics).

Key Checks

• Structural stress tests (e.g., chair weight-bearing capacity)
• UV light inspection for repainting
• Disclosure of all conservation work

Internal link: Avoid these quality pitfalls.

What Is the Bottom Line on Choosing a Quality and Compliance Authority?

Selecting a certified quality and compliance authority prevents costly authenticity errors.

• Always verify CINOA/ADA membership

• Require full provenance for pre-1900 items

• Insist on appraisals using live auction data

Next step: Valuation FAQs for new collectors.