Art Expert Caterina Nobiloni on Valuation, Authenticity, and Provenance

Caterina Nobiloni, a middle-career art expert and court-appointed appraiser, discusses the role of the art expert in Italy. Trained in art history, at Sotheby's, and through fieldwork, she focuses on three parameters: value, authenticity, and provenance. She works extensively with civil and criminal courts on disputes over value, inheritance divisions, and counterfeiting. Nobiloni highlights the rise of arbitration for international disputes, which offers speed, lower costs, and confidentiality compared to traditional trials that can last 15-20 years. Counterfeiting is widespread in Italy due to high profitability and low oversight, with artists like Schifano and Boetti frequently targeted. She advises buyers to always consult archives, foundations, or certified experts, and to avoid purchasing without proper authentication. On AI, she sees potential for data processing and pattern recognition but stresses the irreplaceable role of human judgment. The interview was conducted by Ludovica Palmieri for Artribune.