Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
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24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Certification

Auction houses

The role of auction houses in the certification chain, their obligations and the directory of approved houses.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

A central player in the market

Seal Color Box (1662–1722)
Seal Color Box (1662–1722)

Auction houses are the first point of contact for most works that change hands. Their diligence is therefore decisive for market security, and OIMAP has made them a privileged partner.

A house may request approval of its lots, obtain the conformity label and appear in the public directory of approved houses. In return, it undertakes to comply with the OIMAP directives and to report any suspect work.

The interactive directory of auction houses can be consulted online, with filters by country, specialty and label.

  • Diligence
  • Label
  • Directory
  • Reporting

The houses in figures

24referenced houses (extract)
16cities
3 yearslabel duration
100%of lots checked

The obligations of an approved house

An approved house verifies the seller's identity and the source of funds, searches the BIOP before every sale, requires provenance documents according to the age and nature of the work, and keeps its files for at least ten years.

It reports to OIMAP any work it suspects of being stolen, looted or unlawfully exported. This report does not engage its liability if made in good faith.

The house's commitments

Beaker (c. late 600s–early 700s)
Beaker (c. late 600s–early 700s)
Corner Cabinet, René Dubois (c. 1765–1770)
Corner Cabinet, René Dubois (c. 1765–1770)
Scenes of Daily Life, Roads and Paths: Road to Market (Scènes de la vie quotidienne, Routes et Chemins: Route du Marché), Carle Vernet (1819)
Scenes of Daily Life, Roads and Paths: Road to Market (Scènes de la vie quotidienne, Routes et Chemins: Route du Marché), Carle Vernet (1819)

Approved house or label holder

The three levels
LevelConditionsBenefits
Referenced houseListing in the directoryVisibility
Approved houseCompliance with the OIMAP charterSimplified approval of lots
Label holder12 criteria, audit on documents and on site“OIMAP Label” mention, priority processing

To go further

The Triumph of Mordecai, Lucas van Leyden (1515)QualityConformity label

The twelve criteria and the application.

›Teapot, Louis Rorimer (c. 1910)LotsApproval procedure

How to obtain approval of a lot.

›Boy with Anchor, Winslow Homer (1873)Good practicesCollector's charter

The ten good practices for buyers and sellers.

›

Public directory

Approved house or unreferenced house

The Four Markets: The Fruit Market, Richard Earlom (1775)

Approved house

In the OIMAP directory
  • Check of lots
  • Presumption of diligence
  • Mention in the catalogue

Maximum security for the buyer.

Chemin de fer de Toulouse à Bayonne. Pont de l'Aran (en trois arches de 17m d'ouverture chacune). Situation des travaux au 21 juillet 1861, Édouard Baldus (1861)

Unreferenced house

Outside the directory
  • No systematic check
  • No OIMAP mention
  • Liability to be assessed case by case

To be approached with caution.

Houses referenced by region

Europe11
Americas5
Asia-Pacific4
Africa3
Middle East1

The partnership with the houses

  1. First approvals

    Ten pilot houses.

  2. Due diligence charter

    Shared verification commitments.

  3. Conformity label

    Creation of the label.

  4. 24 referenced houses

    Extension across the five regions.

The Market Place, Wells, Muirhead Bone (1891–1953)
The Market Place, Wells, Muirhead Bone (1891–1953)
Interior Drawer for Cabinet, André-Charles Boulle (c. 1690)
Interior Drawer for Cabinet, André-Charles Boulle (c. 1690)
Vanity Case (Nécessaire) (c. 1760)
Vanity Case (Nécessaire) (c. 1760)

Case study: a house that reports

A suspect lot

Situation

An auction house in Singapore receives a mask on consignment whose origin is uncertain.

Actions
  1. It searches the BIOP: no direct alert.
  2. It reports the work to OIMAP as suspect.
  3. The investigation establishes the unlawful origin.
Outcome

The lot is withdrawn; the house is publicly thanked and no liability is retained.

A partnership of trust

Mercury (Budha), from a Mandi Astrology Series, Sanju (c. 1810)
« Auction houses are sentinels: they are the ones who see works pass through before anyone else. »
Secretary-General's Office, OIMAP

Vocabulary of the houses

House approval
Recognition of a house's commitment to the OIMAP charter.
Conformity label
Distinction awarded after an audit.
Sentinel
Professional who reports suspect works.
Due diligence charter
Commitments to verify sellers and works.

Frequently asked questions

How to become an approved house?

By joining the charter and submitting a referencing file to the Secretariat.

Is referencing paid?

It is free; approval of lots and the label are paid.

Can I consult the directory without an account?

Yes, the directory is public.

Can a house lose its approval?

Yes, in the event of a serious breach of the charter, after adversarial proceedings.

Useful documents

Contacts

Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858)
Small Mosque in the Kaiserbagh, Felice A. Beato (1858)
Certification DepartmentParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 00 00certification@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Consult the directory

Saucer with Scene in style of Watteau (c. 1750–60)

Find the approved auction houses.

See the directory
Image credits (19)
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