Antiques & Decorative Arts

Silver & Metalwork: What to Record

Silver, gold, plated wares, pewter, brass, bronze and iron objects.

The Data Sheet for Silver & Metalwork

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

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.
Metal Choice, or your own: Metal or alloy.
11 choices
Sterling silver (925)
Britannia silver (958)
Continental silver (800 / 835 and other)
Silver plate (EPNS / electroplate)
Sheffield plate
Gold
Pewter
Brass
Bronze
Copper
Iron / steel

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).
Silver weight (g) Number: Weight of the solid silver object (without weighted bases or non-silver parts).

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).
Hallmarks Text: Marks read in order, e.g. lion passant, leopard's head, date letter f (London 1781), maker's mark HB.
Assay office / town mark Text: Assay office or town mark, e.g. London, Birmingham, Augsburg pine cone.

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.