Posted By:
hankron"Attempts at authentication of rare, esoteric and previously unknown objects will often require great skill and time and do not always result in positive identification. There are many objects in museums where the idenification haven’t moved beyond speculation. Many descriptions of art will include phrases such as ‘Attributed to…” and “It is believed…” In the end, the examiner is not omniscient and only gives his or her best opinion. While we would all like to be able to positively identify all items all the time, even the world’s greatest experts will sometimes say, “I have no idea.” Far from being a sign of weakness, it is the expert who is well aware of his or her limitations in knowlwedge. It is the non-expert who claims to have all the answers."