What Is a Certificate of Authenticity? Why It Matters

If you're buying original art — whether for your home or as an investment — understanding the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is essential. It's the single most important document that accompanies an artwork.

What Is a COA?

A Certificate of Authenticity is a document that verifies an artwork is genuine. It's typically issued by the artist, the artist's estate, or the selling gallery. Think of it as the artwork's birth certificate — it establishes identity, origin, and legitimacy.

What Should a COA Include?

A proper Certificate of Authenticity should contain:

• Artist's full name and, where possible, signature
• Title of the work
• Date of creation or approximate period
• Medium (e.g., "oil on canvas", "satin lithograph on paper")
• Dimensions
• Condition notes
• Provenance (history of ownership and exhibition)
• Issuing gallery or authority with contact details

Why Does It Matter?

Without a COA, an artwork's value is significantly diminished. Here's why:

• Resale value: Auction houses and galleries require COAs. Without one, selling is much harder.
• Insurance: Insurers need documentation to cover artwork. A COA establishes the piece's value.
• Estate planning: When passing art to heirs, documentation prevents disputes about authenticity and value.
• Fraud prevention: The art forgery market is real. A COA from a reputable source is your first line of defense.

Our Commitment to Authenticity

Every artwork at Heaven Art Shop ships with a Certificate of Authenticity. For Hector Zablach's lithographs, this includes documentation of his hand signature, exhibition history, and provenance from Europe to our gallery. For Ikalu Uche Karis's paintings, each COA details the original oil medium, canvas dimensions, and the artist's biography.