Build a provenance chain from verifiable evidence

Provenance is the documented history of an item: purchases, owners, locations, use and interventions. It does not need to be complete from day one to be useful.

Gather receipts, invoices, dated photographs, correspondence, service documents and anything that clearly links that specific example to a point in its history.

An oral account can be a starting point, but separate it from verifiable facts. If part of the story cannot be demonstrated, describe it as reported information rather than certainty.

Good provenance reduces uncertainty, but it does not replace physical checks of authenticity and condition.