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Park West Edition and Medium Terms, Explained

Serigraph, giclée, embellished, sculptograph, AP, HC, EA, BAT: a plain-English glossary of the terms on Park West certificates, and why each matters.

By Your Art Vault · · 3 min read

“Serigraph.” “Giclée on canvas, embellished.” “Hors commerce.” Park West certificates and auction descriptions use a vocabulary that’s precise but rarely explained. This glossary covers the terms you’ll actually see, in plain English, with notes on why each one matters when you insure, sell or compare a piece.

How the piece was made

TermWhat it meansWhy it matters
Original / unique workA one-of-a-kind piece, such as a painting on canvas or paper. Park West certificates say “A unique work.”There’s no edition, so there are no direct comparables. Value rests on the artist and the piece itself.
SerigraphA screenprint. Each color is pushed through its own stencil screen, often dozens of colors in layers.A traditional, labour-intensive print. Check the edition size.
LithographPrinted from a flat stone or plate, using the fact that oil and water repel.“Mixed media with lithograph” means a lithograph with other materials added. See the note on variations below.
EtchingPrinted from a metal plate with lines cut by acid. The ink sits in the grooves.Often small editions with a distinctive line quality.
GicléeA high-resolution print made with archival pigment inks on paper or canvas.Very common in contemporary editions. Check whether it’s hand-signed and embellished.
EmbellishedPaint or other material added by hand on top of a print, so each example differs slightly.Park West’s invoice terms say you “likely will instead receive a unique work that is a variation of the example displayed.”
SculptographPark West’s term, described on certificates as a “three dimensional multimedia construction”, printed with archival UV ink.Has depth and relief, so it needs a deeper frame and more care when shipping.

Who signed it, and how

  • Hand-signed by the artist: the artist signed this example personally, in pencil, pen or paint. Certificates sometimes say where, such as “hand-signed in pigment lower right”.
  • Plate-signed: the signature is printed as part of the image. It isn’t a personal signature.
  • Estate-signed or stamped: signed or stamped by the artist’s estate after the artist’s death.
  • Signed, dated and titled on the verso: there’s writing on the back of the work as well. Photograph it.

These differences affect value and buyer interest. Copy the signature line from your certificate word for word into your records.

The edition

An edition is the set of prints made from the same image. Certificates list the main edition and every proof made alongside it. See how to read a certificate for a real example where “an edition of 200” adds up to 547 impressions.

MarkingNameWhat it is
112/200Arabic numbered editionThe main edition: example 112 of 200.
XII/CCRoman numbered proofsA parallel edition numbered in Roman numerals.
APArtist proofProofs traditionally reserved for the artist.
EAÉpreuve d’artisteThe French term for artist proof, listed separately on Park West certificates as European artist proofs.
HCHors commerce“Not for trade”: originally set aside for exhibition or samples.
BATBon à tirer“Good to print”: the approved reference proof the printer matched.
PPPrinter’s proofProofs kept by the printer.

Count the whole edition. To know how many impressions of a title exist, add the main edition and every proof listed on the certificate. More impressions usually mean more examples come up for resale.

Two invoice clauses that change what you receive

  1. Annotation: “the example of a limited edition work you receive may be annotated in a different manner than the example displayed.” In practice, the example you receive may carry a different number or designation (an AP instead of a numbered example, say) from the one you saw at the auction.
  2. Variations: for “embellished” and “mixed media with lithograph” works, you may receive “a unique work that is a variation of the example displayed”.

Neither is a problem in itself, but it’s why you should check the piece that arrives against your certificate, and photograph its own markings.

Park West Collectors records the medium, signature and edition marking on every piece, so you can see at a glance what you own and compare like with like in The Study.

Your Art Vault is an independent platform operated by Kerja Group LLC, written by collectors for collectors. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Park West Gallery. Park West documents shown are from our own collection, with personal details removed, and are reproduced for explanation only. This article is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.

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