Each acquired piece carries an identity record at a permanent public URL. The card updates as the work’s history grows — exhibitions, loans, conservation events, ownership transfers all chain to the same identity.
What the card carries
Five layers, one identity.
Identity hash
A unique fingerprint generated at canonization. Used to look up the current state of the record without exposing private information.
Public URL
A permanent address where the current public state of the record can be inspected. The URL never expires; the record never moves.
Self-sealing structure
Each new event (loan, conservation, transfer) is appended and sealed against the prior state. The seal is verifiable by any party.
Steganographic fingerprint
A visual fingerprint that can be embedded in physical certificates and digital reproductions, allowing offline verification later.
Living state
The card is current. Where most provenance documents capture a moment, this captures a continuing record.