Provenance

Provenance records the chain of custody, ownership, locations and transactions of an artwork or cultural object. In Switzerland, it is central to good-faith acquisition questions, cultural property transfer controls, anti-money-laundering risk assessment and museum due diligence. Gaps do not automatically prove illegality, but they may require heightened inquiry, especially for Nazi-era losses, colonial contexts, archaeological objects and items from conflict zones. Reliable provenance work uses archives, catalogues, invoices, customs documents, expert opinions and, where appropriate, scientific analysis.