The short answer: write one or two plain sentences in the issuer’s own voice that say what you made or represent, and that the details are accurate. For an artist:
“I confirm that the artwork described here was made by me and that the recorded details are accurate.”
Then sign and date it. Below are 12 statements to adapt, grouped by who issues the certificate.
How to write the statement
A good statement does three things, in this order:
- Says who is speaking: “I”, for an artist; the studio or gallery by name.
- Says what they confirm: that they made the work, printed it, or represent it.
- Says the details are accurate, which covers the title, medium, size and edition printed above it.
Keep numbers in the edition line rather than the statement when you can, so one wording works for a whole run. Add them to the statement when you want the run spelled out, as in example 3. The statement is only one part: see what else to include.
Letter of authenticity
A letter of authenticity carries the same statement and the same details, written as a letter on your letterhead and signed at the bottom. The wording below works in either. A certificate is easier to file and to recognize, because the details sit in fixed places.
Wording for artists
Use the first person. Change the verb to fit what you did: “painted”, “carved”, “cast”, “threw”. Name the technique only if it helps tell the work apart. The certificate for original artwork starts with this wording already in place.
I confirm that the artwork described here was made by me and that the recorded details are accurate.
The editor’s default for artists. Works for paintings, drawings, sculpture and one-off pieces.
The fictional painter in our other guides words the same idea a little differently, “I confirm that I made the original artwork described on this certificate and that the details recorded here are accurate.” Both are fine: pick the one that sounds like you, and use it on every certificate.
Wording for limited editions and artist proofs
Every print in an edition gets its own certificate, and the edition total is the same on all of them. Proofs say which edition they belong to. For a whole run, see limited edition certificates.
I confirm that this print is part of the edition described here, that it was made by me or under my direction, and that the recorded details are accurate.
Leaves the numbers to the edition line, so the same wording works for every print in the run.
I confirm that I made and signed this print, number 7 in a limited edition of 25 plus 3 artist proofs, and that the details recorded here are accurate.
Names the number, the edition size and the proofs, so a buyer knows the whole run.
I confirm that this is artist proof 2 of 3, printed alongside the limited edition of 25, and that the details recorded here are accurate.
Ties the proof to its edition so it is never confused with a numbered print. More on artist proofs.
Wording for photographers
Say whether you printed the image yourself or supervised the print, and whether the edition total covers every size. The image and sheet size go in the dimensions, not the statement.
I confirm that I made this photograph and supervised this print, and that the recorded details, including the edition, are accurate.
For prints you made or supervised yourself.
I confirm that I made this photograph and this print, number 3 in an edition of 10 across all sizes, and that the details recorded here are accurate.
Say “across all sizes” when one edition total covers every print size of the image.
Wording for studios and makers
A studio writes as “we” or in its own name, and names the maker as the creator when one person made the piece. Care notes, such as “Food safe. Hand wash only. Small variations in glaze are part of the firing.”, go in the notes field rather than the statement.
We confirm that the item described here was made by our studio and that the recorded details are accurate.
Written in the studio’s name. Add the maker as the creator.
We confirm that this piece belongs to the limited run described here, was produced by our studio, and that the recorded details are accurate.
Lowfield Pottery confirms that this piece was thrown and fired by hand in our studio by the maker named here and that the details recorded are accurate.
Names how it was made and who made it, without a promise about the future.
Wording for galleries and representatives
A gallery states its relationship to the artist and speaks to what it knows. “To the best of our knowledge” is honest, not weak: the gallery did not make the work. Sign for the gallery with your name and role.
On behalf of the gallery, I confirm that we represent the work described here and that the recorded details are accurate to the best of our knowledge.
The gallery speaks for what it knows, “to the best of our knowledge”.
North Fold Gallery represents the artist named here and confirms that the details of this original work recorded on this certificate are accurate to the best of its knowledge.
States the relationship plainly: the gallery represents the artist.
We issue this certificate for the work described here. The details were supplied by the artist and recorded accurately by the gallery.
Honest about where the details came from.
Want to try one? put this wording on a certificate, then change the details to yours.
Words to avoid
A certificate is your statement, so words that promise more than you know weaken it. Avoid these:
| Avoid | Why | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| “Guaranteed authentic” | A promise about an outcome, not a statement of what you know. | “I confirm that I made…” |
| “Certified genuine” | From anyone but the maker it sounds like an independent check that never happened. | “…confirms that the details are accurate” |
| “Verified” | Suggests a verification service or registry behind the certificate. | Say who issued it and how to contact them |
| “Official” or “accredited” | Implies an authority that does not exist for artist certificates. | Your name and role |
| “Legally binding”, “hereby warrants” | A certificate is not a contract. Terms of sale belong in the sale agreement. | Plain first-person sentences |
| Value or investment claims | Value depends on the market and changes. Do not promise it on paper. | Leave value out |