Artwork authenticity disputes: English courts on attribution, connoisseurship, provenance, technical analysis, misrepresentation, Sale of Goods Act claims and auction-house warranties

Published by a LexisNexis Private Client expert

Practice notes

‘ The attribution of works of art to particular artists is often a matter of great controversy ’ (per Sir Raymond Evershed MR)

The art market’s value keeps rising, and linking a piece to a specific creator can dramatically influence its price. As Jordan Holland, a barrister working in art law, has noted, a sought-after attribution can lift a work from tens of thousands of pounds into the tens of millions. Combined with the arrival of new collectors, buyers and art investors, it is unsurprising that the court is increasingly called upon to address the attribution of art and cultural property. In doing so, it must confront questions unlike those it ordinarily faces. See: The approach of the English court to connoisseurship, provenance and technical analysis, Jordan Holland, Dec. 2012, Art Antiquity & Law (Vol. 17, Issue 4), Institute of Art and Law (not reported by LexisNexis®). This Practice Note examines disputes in...

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Adam Carvalho

Adam Carvalho has more than 15 years' experience as a contentious Private Client lawyer. Most recently, he was a Legal Director in the Contentious Trusts and Probate Team at Myerson, where he worked on complex and high-value contentious trust and probate matters.Adam trained, qualified and worked as a senior associate and partner in a central London firm in the Tier 1 nationally for Contentious Trust and Probate work.Adam has considerable experience of ultra-high value litigation, cross-jurisdictional matters and disputes in non-UK courts. Adam has litigated in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and advised in relation to complex matters in courts from Bermuda to New Zealand. Adam is known for his constructive, pragmatic advice, his down to earth approach, and his technical knowledge. Adam is a firm believer in focusing on the main issues and providing sound and accessible advice....

Web page updated on 28/05/2026

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