NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Artory, the only blockchain-secured registry of verified information about artworks and collectibles, today announced an industry-first collaboration with Christie’s, the world’s leading auction house, to register An American Place: The Barney A. Ebsworth Collection on its Blockchain database. The Collection is considered the most significant privately-owned collection of American Modernist art ever to come to market.
The Artory Registry is the world’s most secure art-centric database, containing highly trusted, vetted data about artworks. Leveraging modern cryptography and blockchain technology to record significant events in the lifecycle of artworks and collectibles, the Artory Registry creates a secure digital record of transactions, with a goal of providing greater confidence in an artwork’s ongoing provenance and greater efficiency in its eventual resale. Collectors with artworks registered with Artory maintain anonymity, as their identity is never stored in the Registry.
“Today’s buyers are more skeptical and risk averse. They want to buy with absolute confidence,” said Nanne Dekking, Founder & CEO of Artory and Chairman of The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF). “Artory was created to be a partner for the art marketplace in addressing these challenges. We support auction houses by enabling them to provide their clients with blockchain-encrypted trust and security, as well as a modern technology experience that buyers expect. Christie’s is an innovator in the industry, and we are thrilled to welcome them as the first collaborator on our trusted network.”
Richard Entrup, Chief Information Officer at Christie’s commented: “Our pilot collaboration with Artory is a first among the major global auction houses, and reflects growing interest within our industry to explore the benefits of secure digital registry via blockchain technology. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Ebsworth family and their embrace of leading-edge technology makes Christie’s November sale of the Ebsworth Collection an ideal platform for our clients to pilot this technology for themselves and explore the advantages of having a secure encrypted record of information about their purchased artwork. We are collaborating with Artory due to their team’s understanding of the art world and the strength of their product.”
This announcement of the blockchain partnership is timed to Christie’s upcoming West Coast tour of major artworks from the Barney A. Ebsworth collection. The exhibitions are open to the public in San Francisco at Minnesota Street Gallery from October 16–20, and in Los Angeles at Christie’s flagship Beverly Hills Gallery from October 23–27.
For more information, visit Artory.com.
For more information about An American Place: The Barney A. Ebsworth Collection, visit www.christies.com.
About Artory
Artory exists to protect and grow the prosperity and enjoyment of those who buy, own, and sell art and collectibles. The company’s core product, the Artory Registry, is a blockchain-secured, digital registry of verified information about artworks, collectibles, and their history. Artory was founded in 2016 by Nanne Dekking, TEFAF Chairman and former Sotheby’s Executive, with the endorsement and support of Hasso Plattner, the founder of SAP Software Solutions and an internationally-renowned art collector, and Ron and Jeff Cordover of the Corber Corp private equity firm and art-collecting family. They all recognized the need for greater confidence and transparency in the art market, and the transformative powers of blockchain to fill that gap. With teams in New York and Berlin, Artory partners with renowned auction houses and other art businesses around the world who are committed to bringing a greater level of transparency and confidence to the market. Learn more at www.artory.com.
About Christie’s
Christie’s, the world's leading art business, had global auction, private and digital sales in the first half of 2018 that totaled £2.97 billion / $4.04 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War & Contemporary, Impressionist & Modern, Old Masters and Jewelry.
Alongside regular sales online, Christie’s has a global presence in 46 countries, with 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
