DNA Tags & Blockchain

DNA Tags

Our secure, patented DNA Tags authenticate your artwork and link them to the digital record.

Tagsmart’s Smart DNA Tags launched in 2016 and we’ve since developed technologies for multiple media types and workflows. In 2022 we applied for a patent on our latest solution, which creates a crypto-fingerprint from any artform or material. Tagsmart strives to remain informed about the art industry’s latest technological innovations to better serve our trusted clients.

DNA TAGSMART

DNA TAG PORTFOLIO

Tagsmart’s premiere DNA Tagging technology links your artwork to a secure, digital catalogue to protect it from forgery. These small, flexible tags possess a unique reference number that correspond to the artwork’s Certificate of Authenticity.

They are primarily designed for flatworks, including dry-mounted pieces and those where de-framing is not practical. Sculptures and other 3-dimensional works can be tagged by arrangement.

The artist may also collaborate with Tagsmart to develop a personalised DNA Tag to feature the artist’s own catalogue numbering system.

  • For print editions and works on paper.

    P01: Standard

    P02: Simple

    PC1: Custom

    • Archival, permanently flexible and easy to apply

    • Measure 31mm in diameter

    • Tags marked with an asterisk provide translucent areas that can be used with a signature or other mark on the material surface.

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  • For works on/mounted on aluminum, wood and board.

    M02: Black

    M03: Signature

    • Quick and easy to apply tags

    • Advanced security tags

    • All tags in this range are 38mm in diameter

    • Special process applying a 10μ thin transfer to the surface.

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  • For works on canvas.

    C01: Canvas

    • Archival and permanently flexible, bonding into the canvas nap over time to provide a totally seamless identity that feels like an integral part of the material.

    • Diameter is 43mm

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  • Our frame tags use the same technology as our Mount tags.

    F01: Standar

    F02: Signature

    • An option that can be used on their own where the work itself is not accessible and de-framing is not practical.

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Blockchain

THE ART INDUSTRY’S DEPENDABLE SOLUTION

Register your artwork to the Polygon Blockchain–an innovative technology that issues an auditable, time-stamped, fixed record of Certification. It combines the credibility of the artist’s signature, validity of a Certificate of Authenticity, and traceability of a digital identity. Blockchains enable Tagsmart to track and verify your transactions, transfers, and other activities.

About Blockchain

Blockchain is a method of storing data that makes it very difficult - even impossible - to change historical information. If Rebecca’s purchase of an artwork is registered in a blockchain, it would prevent John from falsifying that record later to assert that he was the purchaser, not Rebecca. 

Blockchain for the art market is currently in a state of flux. Some solutions involve fitting requirements into restrictive frameworks - Bitcoin, for example, was designed to support a digital currency, not artwork provenance records. Other issues include sustainability, control of information and the inability to identify physical works represented on the chain.

Tagsmart & Blockchain Today

Tagsmart’s role is the maintenance of provenance records. For blockchain and NFT records, we provide assurance of good provenance and optional asset identification using our tagging technologies.

As of June 2022, our Digital Certificates have been filed on Polygon. We are also the founders of the National Arts Archive project, creating 1000-year provenance records independent of all digital platforms (including ours).

We remain 'blockchain agnostic' - it is not our role to predict which solution, if any, will prosper.  For that reason, we support our members’ requirements to work with third parties via our Connect service.

Tagsmart & Blockchain Tomorrow

Tagsmart has monitored blockchain technologies since the company was first formed in 2013. Many blockchain technologies are open source and, with our experience of the last six years in provenance, authority management and Certification, we continue to develop the next generation of Tagsmart services to leverage those technologies in line with our commitment to our artists, galleries and collectors.

If you would like to be kept abreast of these developments, please email us at registrar@tagsmart.com.