All the pieces

All articles

Browse Trusted Chronicle's articles on provenance, records, object marks, care and passing an object's story on. Each piece aims to separate what a clue shows from what it cannot settle.

Wooden desk with an open drawer holding an old receipt, vintage books, vase with leaves, magnifying glass, and an open notebook with pen

Provenance

A Receipt Can Date a Purchase, Not Tell the Whole Story

A receipt can date a purchase and identify its seller, but careful reading also reveals what it cannot establish about…

Nov 4, 20266 min read

Hands holding a silver spoon and a smartphone displaying information about the spoon on a wooden table with documents and a file folder

Records

Paper Folder or Digital Album for Object Records?

Choose a paper folder or digital album for object records by matching retrieval habits, document types and family…

Oct 29, 20269 min read

Open wooden box with J. Reed signature inside surrounded by vintage papers, pencil, book, and magnifying glass

Marks

When Makers Began Signing Their Work

When makers began signing their work varied by trade and place. Trace the historical shift from workshop marks to…

Oct 27, 20266 min read

Antique brass box with open lid next to handwritten notes, magnifying glass, pencil, and a small vase with green leaves on beige surface

Marks

The Authentication Myth: Why One Mark Cannot Prove an Object’s Past

One mark cannot authenticate an object by itself. Learn what a stamp can show, where it misleads, and how to weigh it…

Oct 25, 20264 min read

Open box with vintage keepsakes on table including silver brooch, old photographs, notebook with handwritten notes, and a cup of tea

Passing On

A Family Handover for a Box of Keepsakes

A family handover for a box of keepsakes preserves names, dates and open questions, so the next person can care for…

Oct 21, 20267 min read