Antiques & Decorative Arts

Furniture: What to Record

Seating, tables, case furniture, beds and other furniture.

The Data Sheet for Furniture

The 37 fields worth recording for furniture, grouped as in the ordicio app. Fields marked with a broader category come from it; the others are specific to furniture.

Identification

Object type Text Antiques & decorative arts: What the object is, in the most specific common term, e.g. commode, tea caddy, candlestick, longcase clock.
Maker Text Antiques & decorative arts: Person, workshop or firm that made the object; write 'attributed to' or 'workshop of' when not certain.
Designer Text Antiques & decorative arts: Designer when different from the maker, e.g. Josef Hoffmann for Wiener Werkstaette.
Place of origin Place Antiques & decorative arts: Town, region or workshop location where the object was made.
Country Text Antiques & decorative arts: Country of origin or issue, by its usual English name (historic states as named at the time, e.g. Kingdom of Bavaria).
Style / period Choice, or your own Antiques & decorative arts: Style or period the object belongs to.
22 choices
Gothic / medieval
Renaissance
Baroque
Louis XIV
Régence
Rococo / Louis XV
Neoclassical / Louis XVI
Georgian
Directoire / Empire
Regency
Biedermeier
Victorian
Historicism / Revival styles
Arts & Crafts
Art Nouveau / Jugendstil
Edwardian
Art Deco
Bauhaus / Modernism
Mid-century modern
Postmodern
Contemporary
Asian / non-Western tradition
Date / period Text Antiques & decorative arts: When the object was made, as precise as known, e.g. 1876, c. 1890, 1920s, 2nd century AD.
Pattern / model Text Antiques & decorative arts: Model, form or pattern name and number, e.g. Swan Service, Blue Onion, model 1234.

Materials & technique

Materials Text Antiques & decorative arts: Materials the object is made of, main material first.
Technique Text Antiques & decorative arts: How the object was made or decorated.
Colour Text Antiques & decorative arts: Colour or colours as seen in daylight, main colour first.
Wood Text: Woods used, primary and secondary, e.g. mahogany with oak carcass, walnut veneer.
Construction Text: Joinery and construction details, e.g. hand-cut dovetails, pegged mortise and tenon.
Upholstery Text: Upholstery and covering, original or later.
Finish Choice, or your own: Surface finish of the furniture.
Original finish
Refinished
French polish
Painted
Gilt
Lacquer

Measurements

Height (cm) Number Antiques & decorative arts: Height, measured upright as the object is meant to stand or hang.
Width (cm) Number Antiques & decorative arts: Width, measured from the front.
Depth (cm) Number Antiques & decorative arts: Depth, measured from front to back.
Diameter (mm) Number Antiques & decorative arts: Diameter at the widest point.
Weight (g) Number Antiques & decorative arts: Weight of the object (without stand, frame or holder unless noted).

Marks

Marks, signatures and labels that identify maker, place and date.

Inscriptions & marks Text Antiques & decorative arts: Signatures, labels, stamps, hallmarks, maker's marks and numbers, transcribed as they appear and with their position.
Distinguishing features Text Antiques & decorative arts: Damage, repairs or peculiarities that identify this very object (helps to recognise it after a loss or theft).

Condition

Condition Choice Antiques & decorative arts: Overall condition in plain terms; domains with an established grading scale use that scale instead.
Mint / as new
Excellent
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Condition notes Text Antiques & decorative arts: Faults, wear and damage in detail.
Restoration & repairs Text Antiques & decorative arts: Restorations, repairs, replaced parts and cleaning, with who did them and when if known.
Certificate / expertise Text Antiques & decorative arts: Certificates of authenticity or expert opinions, with issuer, date and number.

Acquisition

How and when the object came into the collection.

Acquisition date Date Antiques & decorative arts: Date the object came into the collection.
Acquisition method Choice, or your own Antiques & decorative arts: How the object came into the collection.
Purchase
Auction
Gift
Inheritance
Exchange / trade
Self-collected / found
Commission
Acquired from Text Antiques & decorative arts: Seller, auction house (with sale and lot number), donor or place where it was found.
Purchase price Amount Antiques & decorative arts: Price paid including fees and premiums.
Provenance Text Antiques & decorative arts: Earlier owners and the object's history, oldest first, with sources (labels, invoices, sale catalogues).

Value

Estimated and insured value.

Estimated value Amount Antiques & decorative arts: Current market value as estimated.
Valuation date Date Antiques & decorative arts: Date of the current value estimate.
Valuation basis Choice Antiques & decorative arts: What the estimated value is based on.
Own estimate
Recent sales / auction results
Dealer offer
Catalogue value
Professional appraisal
Insurance valuation
Insured value Amount Antiques & decorative arts: Sum the object is insured for.

Collection record

Your own inventory data.

Inventory number Text Antiques & decorative arts: Your own number or label for the object, e.g. C-0042, as written on its label or album page.
Storage location Text Antiques & decorative arts: Where the object is kept, e.g. room, cabinet, drawer, album and page, box.