A recognised problem in the management of artworks and collections is how to determine the identity of a specific work. Normally the need is to determine what the work is and connect it to other information, such as for collections management. However, there are also documented cases of substitution of artworks, ones that have been purchased legitimately with their paperwork, only for the paperwork to be used with a reproduction. Security marking and tagging addresses these problems by providing unique identifiers.

Over the recent past a number of approaches have been developed for marking, mainly aimed at tagging works through bar-codes, so-called ‘DNA’ and microdot tags and RFID methods. However these commonly suffer from a range of difficulties such as the need to avoid removal of tags and issues over whether materials applied conform to strict conservation criteria. A leading alternative to this is macrophotography, a non-invasive technique where highly detailed images are taken, the microscopic features of cracks and brushstrokes, recording becoming an ‘internal barcode’. Since these features are integral to the object they do not change and are non-invasive. Through its imaging technology, AA&R can provide record macrophotographs (including X-ray) and matching services. Data is held securely long-term on our servers.