How it will work
What using it will look like
Patina is not open yet, so these steps are the order it is planned to work in, not a sequence to start here.
Turn the piece over and shoot the mark
Capture with the camera or upload a photo from your library. The mark on the base is usually the most useful single frame, though a whole-object shot works when there is no mark to find.
The model reads what it can see
The image goes to a multimodal vision model, which returns maker, era, origin and how confident it is in that reading.
Read the answer in plain language
No jargon wall and no dollar figure. A disclaimer stays visible on the result so you always know you are reading an estimate rather than an appraisal.
Take the flag seriously
Below the confidence threshold, Patina stops guessing and flags the item, with a link to a vetted appraiser who can look at it properly.
Come back to it later
Your last ten results stay in history, so you can compare what you saw at two different tables without writing anything down.
For what it covers, see the pages this site publishes.
Photograph it where you stand
Use your phone camera or upload a photo you already took. It runs in a mobile browser, so there is nothing to install before you can look something up.
Maker, era and origin
A multimodal vision model reads the image and returns maker, era, origin and a confidence level, rather than a single vague label.
Questions
Answers before you ask
Does Patina tell me what my item is worth?
No, and it never will. Patina identifies maker, era and origin, and it does not produce a dollar value or price estimate. Valuation is a professional's job and we say so on every result.
How reliable are the identifications?
Every result is an AI-generated estimate, not an expert appraisal, and it should not be the sole basis for a purchase or sale decision. That is why each result carries a confidence level and a persistent disclaimer, and why low-confidence results are flagged rather than dressed up.
What does the appraisal flag actually do?
When the model's confidence falls below the set threshold, the result is flagged and you are given a referral link to a vetted appraiser. It is a handoff, not a verdict.
Is there an iOS or Android app?
Not at launch. Patina runs as a mobile-first web app you open in your phone browser, with camera capture or photo upload built in. Native app store distribution is not part of this build.
What happens to the photos I take?
A photo you submit is sent to a multimodal vision model to produce the identification, and your ten most recent results stay in your own signed-in history. The privacy page sets out the detail.
Do I need an account?
Yes. Scans are tied to an account so your monthly quota and your history work, and you can sign in with email and password or a magic link.
When can I use it?
Patina is pre-launch and the waitlist is open. Join it and we will write to you when scanning opens, with no other mail in between.
Join the waitlist
Leave an email and we will tell you when Patina opens for scanning. One message at launch, nothing else in between.
One email when it launches, and one now to confirm your address. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.