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Labels
Print label
Gallery Labels
In the past 200 years many galleries
glued a label on the verso of the paintings they
handled; generally on the stretcher.
These labels provide the name of the gallery, and
sometimes the address. Even is the label is partially
torn, as is so often the case, some little bit of
information generally remains, such as part of the name,
or a street.
With research and patience, it is often possible to
determine where the gallery was in business, and during
what period of time. City Halls, Chambers of Commerce,
tax collector offices, and local historic archives,
generally have records on all the businesses who ever
existed in a town, provided the archives were not
destroyed during fires, floods, revolutions, wars or
bombardments.
This provides a date and a location for the painting and
helps in reconstructing its history of ownership; its
provenance; and it confirms that it existed at a known
date in the past.
Additionally, because galleries generally operate by
representing specific artists, or specializing in art of
particular areas and periods, these labels create a
presumption that the painting is probably authentic, if
the artist is one the gallery is known to have been
associated with.
Sometimes, for paintings that are not very old, the
gallery is still in existence, and confirmation can be
obtained that they represented the artist and that the
painting is authentic.
Last year, we were researching an unknown painting in
the collection of a major corporation, and it seemed to
be the work of David Johnson, American, 1827-1908. An
important artist. Part of a label remained on the back,
and we eventually made out the name Bonfoey. A bit of
research revealed a Bonfoey Company in Cleveland, Ohio,
and they were still in business.
They were kind to go to their archives, and confirmed
that many years ago they had handled a David Johnson
painting. In fact, according to their records, the
transaction had been about TWO David Johnsons. We told
our client, and they launched a company wide search
through their numerous office buildings. Luckily, they
located the second David Johnson. The two paintings were
reunited and authenticated.
Munson Gallery label
Auction Labels
Another type of label found on the
back of paintings are auction lot numbers. Many of these
only have a number. The name and location of the auction
house is generally not printed, except for labels of the
past few decades. In this case, with some research
through auction sales catalogues, it is sometimes
possible to match the lot number, to the auction sale of
the painting. Then, the description in the catalogue
provides information about the painting and can be very
determining in establishing authenticity.
Even older labels, without auction names, provide some
information. Some are printed, some inscribed in pencil
and others in ink. The style and type of the writing
give an idea of when they were used, and where it might
have been, because handwriting was different in such
places as the US, Germany or France. The simple
abbreviation for the word "number" can provide a clue.
"No" or "no" are English. "no." and "N°" are French.
"n." is Italian. "Nr." is German. etc. Standards of
abbreviation are not always respected and they change
over time, but one deduction or one hint, combined with
other pieces of information, frequently leads to
something.
The general appearance of the paper also provides some
information regarding date and location. For example,
deep red labels were popular with British auction houses
until about 1920. The French used rectangular white
labels with blue lines.
Exhibition and Traveling Exhibition Labels
The situation for them is the same as
for gallery labels. Few show an exhibition name,
location or additional information. Deductions and
conclusions have to be drawn from the paper, type of
writing or printing. If the exhibition name is printed,
then it is just a matter of looking up the lot number in
exhibition records, provided they exist. They do for the
important exhibitions in the US, the UK and in
Continental Europe of the past 200 to 250 years.
In some cases artists used their own exhibition labels,
either with a full name or initials. It greatly
simplifies the authentication process.
Museum Labels
Some museums pasted a label on the
back of paintings. Their name is generally printed. The
procedure is then simple; researching the museum
archives and old inventory records for information on
the painting and probably the name of the painter.
A label from the Peale Museum
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