SGS expands art services to provide global service

From New York to London, Paris, Geneva, Brussels and Luxembourg, SGS’s art services, dedicated to supporting collectors and collections of fine art are expanding.

Clients can now access SGS’s art condition reporting, technical examination and analysis, due diligence and inventory services worldwide.

SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, is the first independent art services provider to offer standardized condition reporting, wherever the client, or artwork, is based. The company’s network of conservators and scientists deliver services using proprietary inspection software, standardized technical procedures and state-of-the-art technical equipment – ensuring consistency between branches and peace of mind for clients.

“The art market is global, our solutions are too,” said Yan Walther, SGS's art expert. “Building on the success of our thriving art services business, we’ve recruited an international network of accredited painting conservators and conservation scientists to support collectors, museums, auction houses and galleries internationally.”

Works of art are complex objects. They can deteriorate, or become damaged over time. SGS art services help buyers to understand an artworks’ composition, state of conservation, restoration, degradation and even the materials used. All of which can have a direct impact on the item’s current and future value.

Fakes and Forgeries

Countless fake and forged works of art have been identified over recent years, and the number is increasing, reflecting the dramatic uplift in the value of artworks over the same period. SGS technical analyses provide a powerful and objective approach to detecting fakes and helping experts prove the authenticity of previously undiscovered masterpieces.

Global Reach, Local Touch

Plans to expand SGS’s art services to China next year are at an advanced stage. In addition, there are also plans to open branches in more European countries as well as the Middle East in 2017. Global expertise, delivered by local experts, ensures peace of mind for collectors in all key markets.