provenance

[ prov-uh-nuh ns, -nahns ]

/ ˈprɒv ə nəns, -ˌnɑns /

place or source of origin: The provenance of the ancient manuscript has never been determined.

Origin of provenance

1860–65; < French, derivative of provenant, present participle of provenir < Latin prōvenīre to come forth; see pro-¹, convene, -ant

provenance province

Today, a lack of provenance often means one of two things: an artifact is forged or an artifact was illegally acquired.

Dismembering History: The Shady Online Trade in Ancient Texts |Candida Moss |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“All good dealers and collectors look into provenance,” says Loll.

Why eBay Is an Art Forger’s Paradise |Lizzie Crocker |August 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The new Sappho papyrus probably came from Egypt and perhaps from Oxyrynchus, but its provenance may never be known.

Scholars Discover New Poems from Ancient Greek Poetess Sappho |James Romm |January 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The company prides itself on the provenance of its blades, which, while cheap, are hardly commodities.

After 100 Years, the Shaving Industry Is Finally being Disrupted |Daniel Gross |January 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The provenance of rock roll I had traced as far back as the record store.

The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis |Richard Ben Cramer |January 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
About the provenance of any particular piece it is generally possible to say something vague; about dates we know next to nothing.

Since Czanne |Clive Bell
If the forms of a work are significant its provenance is irrelevant.

Art |Clive Bell
The legendary matter, too, has but few traces of Jewish provenance, and is clearly not due to Jewish redaction.

The myth of the Jewish menace in world affairs |Lucien Wolf
As well make a point of recalling the provenance of any little thing that had happened in this his present life.

Somehow Good |William de Morgan
A somewhat unusual form of this type is in the Vienna museum, but its provenance seems unknown.

The Bronze Age and the Celtic World |Harold Peake

provenance

/ (ˈprɒvɪnəns) /

a place of origin, esp that of a work of art or archaeological specimen

C19: from French, from provenir, from Latin prōvenīre to originate, from venīre to come