What kinds of ownership marks can provide evidence for an artwork’s provenance?

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kouros — Art fraud Kouros of uncertain provenance, formerly on display with the label “about 530 bc or modern forgery,” dolomitic marble; in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California.

To establish the provenance of an artwork—the history of its ownership—experts examine various physical indicators found on the object itself. These marks serve as evidence of the work's journey through time and different collections.

Common ownership marks that can provide evidence for provenance include:

Owners’ stamps: These are often applied directly to the object by previous collectors or institutions to denote possession.
Inscribed dates: Dates written on the object can signify specific moments when a change in ownership occurred.

While these marks are valuable tools for researchers, it is important to note that they are not definitive proof of authenticity. Because historical marks can be forged or manipulated, provenance research must be combined with other methods, such as archival record verification and scientific analysis, to confirm a work's history and origin.1