KREUZLINGEN.- SmartStamp, the pioneering new standard in identification and authentication for the art world, today announced the launch of its new App, available in August 2022. Across an artwork’s journey—from the studio, to storage, to the collector, gallery, or museum wall—SmartStamp is a long-term management and identification solution for anyone involved in the creation, preservation, and protection of cultural objects. The new SmartStamp App leverages patented state-of-the-art anti-counterfeit technology and AI to bring the groundbreaking security and timestamping power of blockchain to the art world.
In advance of the launch, Metagolden, a web3 platform that couples digital art with fine jewelry and 18k gold, is using the SmartStamp App to authenticate two painted bronze sculptures by Jonathan Seliger. The artworks are the first physical-to-digitally linked authenticated artworks to be sold on the major retailer, Moda Operandi. The pre-release App has also been used effectively by Overstone Art Services, provider of financial management services for some of the world’s most significant art collections. Overstone is now in a pilot phase with the App and enterprise API to explore an expansion of its use in service of its global clientele.
Developed over more than a decade from the technology used to create the world’s first digital-to-physical product, SmartStamp’s App uses patented AI technology that is designed to read and record objects’ surface characteristics—offering artists, collectors, institutions, and all arts and culture stakeholders a way to securely and immutably link physical objects to their digital fingerprints on the blockchain. Just by taking a photo with a smartphone, SmartStamp users can create tamper-proof digital fingerprints, which store and timestamp the artwork’s data and metadata, and all interactions with it, on the blockchain.
These digital fingerprints are immutable records of the artwork but can be updated to reflect any changes in condition over time. Even as these surfaces change, SmartStamp's AI recognizes and updates each fingerprint’s unique characteristics. Each digital fingerprint may then be used to create a next-generation Certificate of Authenticity or object identity proof that can be exported, shared, and transferred to others or API-integrated with professional collection management systems for optimal efficiency. They can also be minted into NFTs if desired, providing artists with the opportunity to benefit from royalties for the physical artworks they have connected to the NFT smart contracts.
SmartStamp’s founders and leadership are at the forefront of both the art world and technology landscape, bringing deep expertise to address the needs of artists, collectors, institutions, and other organizations in authenticating, protecting, and preserving cultural objects and heritage. Before co-founding SmartStamp in 2019, CEO Juli Cho Bailer worked in leadership, curatorial, collections management, and sales roles across the arts sector, from world-class art institutions including The Whitney Museum, The Jewish Museum, and the Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art, to private art dealerships where she dealt with high-value and blue-chip objects. SmartStamp’s co-founders alongside Bailer are 3D Technologies and Machine Vision Professor and CIO Dr. Jörg Eberhardt; ESG investment expert and COO Heiko Bailer, PhD; FinTech entrepreneur, art collector, and CFO Friedrich Kisters; and smart contracts authority and CTO Christopher Gondek.
Juli Cho Bailer, CEO and co-founder, SmartStamp: “SmartStamp was created to address a serious need in the art market for secure, trusted, and tamper-proof modes of identification and authentication. The App serves everyone in the cultural world, from artists who want to secure the legacy of their work, to storage and logistics companies that need reliable digital solutions to work with tens of thousands of valuable cultural objects every year.”
SMARTSTAMP COLLABORATION WITH METAGOLDEN X MODA OPERANDI
Currently in pre-release of its App, SmartStamp has already made possible the first ever physical-to-digitally linked and authenticated artworks to be sold by a major retailer. The online luxury fashion retailer, Moda Operandi, in combination with Metagolden, have made available to collectors two painted bronze sculptures by artist Jonathan Seliger, approved for certification by the artist, and paired with their NFT counterparts. Each NFT counterpart is the physical work’s minted certificate of authenticity, powered by SmartStamp, which includes the digital forensics tied to physical artwork’s fingerprints—its digital DNA. Every interaction with the artwork’s digital fingerprints created by the SmartStamp App now is also written into a blockchain event log, accumulating in an immutable, complete lifecycle record—much like a lifelong passport for the object.
Francine Ballard, Founder and CEO, Metagolden: “I’m very excited about being a part of SmartStamp’s pilot release because I believe that authentication and/or validation is the most significant use case for NFTs for the foreseeable future... I’m trying to deliver luxury in a uniquely different package to a highly evolved consumer. But to do this we need to be able to provide our collectors the same assurances as a gallery or badge brand can, and SmartStamp’s digital fingerprinting technology accomplishes this for us.”
Harco van den Oever, Founder and CEO, Overstone Art Services: “After consulting one of the leading conservators we work with, who had a positive and user-friendly experience with the SmartStamp App, we will now begin to pilot this breakthrough AI-driven digital fingerprinting technology to create physical-to-digital links for selected works of art. All object and fingerprint interactions are written into a blockchain event log—creating an immutable, life-long history, while maintaining absolute object and client confidentiality. Other winning features of this sustainable and scalable solution are that it eliminates the need to add potentially damaging physical tags.”
Artist Kimsooja, whose work is included in major museum collections around the world: “SmartStamp is a great scientific tool that has been long awaited to identify an artwork that is hard to confirm, such as my work that is created with used or found objects that exist in our daily life – and easily copied by someone else. I took this risk to convey my concept for the last 40 years, but this has not been easy as an artist in this market oriented artworld. At last, I am pleased to work with my friend Juli Cho Bailer and her SmartStamp to use their groundbreaking AI identification technology that allows each artwork, even identical multiples, to be identified by its macrostructure digital fingerprint of the artwork itself. Bravo, SmartStamp for this innovative achievement! This could solve problems surrounding the identity of an artwork that could be fraudulent or historically questioned that we often have in the art world.”
Artist Gordon Cheung, whose work has been featured in solo exhibitions at major international galleries: “Any technology that enables an artist to archive and record what they have made will prevent counterfeiting and ensure there is a high standard of verified authenticity. With this type of tool in their hands, it empowers an artist to run an inventory far easier and reliably. It gives everyone involved from their collectors to their dealers peace of mind knowing that what is passing into their hands will always be authentic. I think that SmartStamp is helping solve an arts industry problem of fakes, as well as providing a technology that is easy and fast to use. It was in part due to my dispute and prevention of future theft that I began the arduous task of creating an inventory of all my works, and SmartStamp is a great tool to ensure that there is always a digital record or signature that cannot be replicated and therefore is unique to the artwork. I genuinely believe we are at the threshold of a revolutionary digital age and blockchain technology, alongside artificial intelligence with all its adaptations, are important pillars of the 4th Industrial Age. Those who don’t adapt will be left behind.”
Artist Emilio Perez, whose work is included in collections of major museums around the world: "Having the chance to provide a digital certificate of authentication to my collectors is something I’m definitely interested in and SmartStamp is an easy-to-use App for that. Also, even if I’m not ready to explore any creative NFT yet, I’m intrigued about linking my paintings to a NFT smart contract that allows me to receive royalties in the future.”
