Art collectors usually request a CT scan when they are thinking of buying a costly old piece and want to protect their investment, as long as the analysis costs only a fraction of the price of the piece.

The aim of the CT scan is to pick up any hidden defects: 

• restoration;
• an assembly of disparate parts;
• or even forgery (for example: a fake Han Dynasty Dancer);

A CT scan can also be a way of dispelling doubts about the authenticity or integrity of a piece a collector has already bought, whether it is used on its own or in conjunction with other scientific procedures such as thermoluminescence (TL) or carbon 14 dating. 

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Art dealers also want to be sure that an old piece they are interested in is whole and authentic.

A CT scan can:

• confirm the accuracy of the dealer’s assessment of the quality of the objects he buys or sells;
• prove that his supplier can be trusted;
• show he cares about documenting the quality of his objects;
• reassure customers who hesitate or are suspicious because of bad experiences in the past.

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Museum curators also want to be sure they are making a good investment for their institutions but may also request a CT scan to:

• simulate the original state of a restored statue, without destroying it (e.g. a restored Mexican statue);
• estimate the extent of any conservation work required;
• compare it with similar works (corpus study, e.g. a series of Mangbetu jugs);
• reveal an earlier use (e.g. a Peruvian bottle) or any hidden content (e.g. a Yaka fetish);
• document the physical condition of the statue before lending or insuring it;
• prepare illustrations for a publication or exhibition, or for educational purposes.