SA's First Global Database for Numbered Artwork

Gauteng, South Africa -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/05/2013 -- In the vanguard of fighting art theft and fraud and protecting the integrity of the art market, Wikilitho is an organization where art collectors and investors can register their individual pieces and collections through an online service.

“Through building a comprehensive database of numbered paintings, statues and other art, we expose counterfeit works and the fraudulent dealers profiting from these,”

“Our artworks and heritage artifacts are facing their greatest threat yet and the SA Police Service simply does not have either the expertise or the resources to effectively investigate incidents such as last year’s heist of five works by Maggie Laubser, JH Pierneef, Gerard Sekoto and Irma Stern valued at more than R17-million at gunpoint from the Pretoria Museum.”

The registration of artworks in private hands reduces the market for illegal sales while also identifying shady dealers intent on exploiting well-meaning though gullible investors. “In addition, registration reduces the worry that comes from not knowing whether the piece you recently bought is fake or not. Obviously, insuring fully authenticated and registered art assets is considerably easier for owners and underwriters alike.”

Wikilitho was created to protect art investors and the industry as a whole by authenticating works, registering originals and identifying and exposing fraudulent dealers. Through its website, the first of its kind in SA, art investors can register their pieces online for free. “Our service extends to address central issues of importance to the industry,”

He adds that buyers wanting to authenticate prospective purchases should contact Wikilitho via its website. “We can make arrangements to view the piece of pieces before any commitments are made. This is valuable both for the individual buyer and the corporate patron or investor.”

For more info please go to http://wikilitho.com