Antiques & Decorative Arts

Textiles & Rugs: What to Record

Rugs and carpets, tapestries, embroidery, lace and quilts (fashion is under Fashion & accessories).

The Data Sheet for Textiles & Rugs

The 36 fields worth recording for textiles & rugs, grouped as in the ordicio app. Fields marked with a broader category come from it; the others are specific to textiles & rugs.

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.
Textile type Choice, or your own
Kind of textile.
  • Pile rug / carpet
  • Flatweave (kilim, soumak)
  • Tapestry
  • Embroidery / sampler
  • Lace
  • Quilt
  • Costume
Rug origin Text
Weaving region or group, e.g. Persian Heriz, Caucasian Kazak, Anatolian, Turkmen Tekke.

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.
Knot density (knots per dm²) Whole number
Knots per square decimetre (count over 10 cm x 10 cm).

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.

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Updated October 24, 2026