Online bidders must have noticed that in the description of some lots there is the phrase “Verbal confirmation of such-and-such expert” or “Verbal confirmation of the artist's widow”. In what cases and why is it written?

I explain.

Verbal confirmation means that the authenticity of the work has been verified, but an official expert opinion (paper with signature and seal) has not been issued at the time of sale. And it is recommended to do this to the buyer immediately after purchase.

You can do it. There are a set of steps. But for starters, let's eliminate the situation when it comes to works of unknown authorship, without signatures, as well as paintings by amateur artists, amateur copies and mass reproductions. All of them often cost symbolic money, 1,000-5,000 rubles. The age of the picture (old — not old) is also not a criterion for its price. So we take it as a condition that the name of the author of the evaluated work is known in advance and the picture is signed. Then the general procedure will be something like this: