Thursday, 28 May 2015 | American Women's Association

“Protecting Provenance Through Science” Forensic DNA Security Marking & Coding Service Applications to the Art and Antiques Sector: Countering Counterfeits!
by Colum Stewart - Chief Operating Officer of TrackArt

The forgery and faking of art, archaeological and cultural treasures has a long and varied history, with this nefarious industry of replicating and copying being an ever-present thorn for the trade. Hong Kong is a thriving modern free port with a well-found reputation as a centre for Chinese antiquities and Contemporary Chinese art. Record prices and recognition have only increased the demand for the high-end authentic pieces, which in turn has helped fuel the market in fakes and substitute products, thus putting both the collector and the trade at risk. Modern scientific methods, incorporating the manufacture of synthetic DNA for forensic marking and coding services, have made it increasingly necessary to evaluate the importance of protecting the provenance and history of an object. This relatively new discipline (synthetic DNA), in addition to having its own specific entities, has also found value in establishing ‘brand’ protection for those embracing its use, but most importantly, it helps to ‘lock’ in the provenance of an item once it has been expertly coded and catalogued. Equally important is the strength given to the ‘traceability’ aspect should a coded item be stolen. This presentation will look at the origins, development and use of DNA; the arrival of synthetic DNA products and how they have helped in establishing a new market in the cataloguing, security, protection and retrieval of high-value art and specie.