Leading French auction house Millon is set to harness Arteïa’s Tezos blockchain-based digital traceability technology for verifying the authenticity of artworks at its Masters Decorative Arts of the 20th Century event on November 7th.
The decision to employ Arteïa’s Connect solution underscores the innovative approach taken by Arteïa in addressing issues related to art fraud and authenticity. Notably, Millon’s adoption of Connect follows the recent announcement by Galerie Christophe Gaillard that it will utilize the technology to authenticate works by renowned artist Pablo Tomek.
Arteïa’s Innovative Solution Boosts Art Authenticity and Market Trust
Arteïa’s Co-founder, Olivier Marian, expressed his pride in their continued assistance to artists, galleries, and now auction houses, certifying the authenticity of artworks in a unique manner. He highlighted that, for the first time, a digital Certificate of Authenticity or Digital Lot Description is secured on the Tezos Blockchain, securely linked to the physical item, thanks to their unique Arteïa Connect solution.
Millon’s President, Alexandre Millon, emphasized the importance of trust and the tangible commitment they make to customers through the deployment of this chip, which certifies the specific object sold.
Arteïa Connect presents numerous advantages for collectors, artists, gallerists, and auction houses. Notably, it introduces a digital identity card, generated by the platform, securely linked to the artwork itself using an NFC chip that is tamper-proof and self-destructs if any tampering is attempted. This enhanced traceability of objects on the secondary market, especially in auctions, ultimately bolsters the resale value of the works.
The digital identity card, which contains essential information such as artwork photos, artist names, titles, dates, mediums, dimensions, and other pertinent details, may also incorporate a secure digital copy of a certificate of authenticity or a CITES certificate if the artworks are sold with such documentation.
When an NFC chip is scanned through the Arteïa Authentication application, it grants partner-specific access to a private VIP Room webpage. These rooms offer additional insights into the artwork, the artist, videos, and sale details, fostering a new level of interaction between the owner of the work and the sales entity.
For swift identification of the work, the auction house and gallery can generate a QR code linked to the digital certificate, allowing visitors to exhibitions or those managing storage and shipping to quickly scan the code and access an identification web page.
In response to gallery requests, Arteïa has integrated the ability to associate a resale contract with the work, enabling the regulation of future transactions. Such contracts can be linked to the NFC chip and specify conditions such as a period of prohibition on resale without first involving the gallery.
Arteïa’s team has already collaborated with various artists and estates, including Hélène Delprat and Rachel de Joode, expanding the range of artworks and archival material accessible to art collectors worldwide. These partnerships exemplify the practical, user-friendly, and forward-looking application of blockchain technology in the commercial art market, as more institutions adopt the technology with diverse use cases.
