Powered by Proofenance
The mark means ProofMarked standards so compliance is met properly, and Proofenance software so your identity documents are handled to a high industry standard for security , not email attachments for a high-value work.
Powered by Proofenance stands for two things at once: the dealer runs eligible sales to the ProofMarked standard so compliance is met to the level UK regulations require, and they use Proofenance software so your identity documents and related data are handled to a high industry standard for security, not email attachments and scattered files.
ProofMarked: compliance handled properly
ProofMarked is the standard Proofenance defines for art-market sales: who was checked, what was collected, and what was kept for identity, payment, and due diligence on a named purchase. When a dealer shows the mark, they are saying each eligible sale follows that standard so compliance is met, with explained steps, access codes, audit logs, exportable files (including ProofMarked reports where used), and retention aligned with AML and HMRC expectations, not improvised spreadsheets.
That is a deliberate operational choice. Dealers who publish the mark are investing in auditable standards regulators and auditors can examine when they ask how a sale was run.
Proofenance software: security for your documents
The mark also means your passport, proof of address, and other sensitive material go through Proofenance's platform, built for high-value trade, not a generic inbox. In practice that means:
- Industry-standard protection. Encryption, permissioned staff access, and transaction-scoped storage, documented in our trust and security materials and explained in how we protect your data.
- Named-sale workflows. You complete only the steps required for your purchase, with a code and clear purpose, not an open-ended file drop.
- Traceable handling. If something goes wrong, there is a timeline of who accessed your material, not an untraceable forward chain.
Compliance and security work together: ProofMarked defines what must be done; Proofenance software defines how it is done safely.
What it means for you as a collector
You are not buying Proofenance; you are buying from the dealer. The mark tells you:
- Compliance is met. ProofMarked means the gallery runs sales so compliance is met to the level UK regulations require, which protects legitimate trade and serious collectors.
- Your ID is not handled casually. You are less likely to be asked for a passport over plain email without context, retention policy, or the technical controls Proofenance provides.
You can read the full picture on these collector pages before you upload: both the regulatory side (why records are kept) and the security side (why information security matters).
What it does not guarantee by itself
The mark is not a personal endorsement of every artwork or price. It does not replace your own judgment about the dealer, the contract, or the work. It means the dealer uses ProofMarked for compliance and Proofenance for secure handling, not an improvised channel. You should still use the dealer's public information page (when provided) to confirm who they are.
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