• HOME
  • APPS
  • FAQs
  • GLOSSARY
  • CONTACT
  • LOG ON
  • HOME
  • APPS ▾
    • ART REPORTS
    • SHIPPERS REPORT
  • FAQs
  • GLOSSARY
  • CONTACT
  • LOG ON
Glossary
  • Abrasion
  • :
  • Loss of media caused by rubbing or scraping.
  • Accretion
  • :
  • Accumulation, adherence or embedding of extraneous matter.
  • Acid / Matt Burn
  • :
  • Alteration to a work on paper caused by lignin containing acidic materials in contact with the artwork.
  • Active infestation
  • :
  • A colony of one or more species actively living and breeding within or on an object. Can be: carpet beetle, clothes moths, silver fish, termites, furniture beetles, cockroach, ants, house flies. Variable: Immediate attention needed.
  • Artist intent
  • :
  • Present condition over which the artist/maker has authority that is intentional or unintentional.
  • Blanching
  • :
  • Milky areas in paint or varnish.
  • Bleeding
  • :
  • Suffusion of a color into adjacent areas, often caused by moisture or solvents.
  • Broken glass
  • :
  • Vitreous material shattered, cracked or chipped.
  • Bronze disease
  • :
  • Greenish flaking or bubbling, damp condition of surface bronze.
  • Buckling
  • :
  • Disruption causing ripples or ridges.
  • Burn Mark
  • :
  • Blistering and/or charring of a surface as a result of fire or other open heat source.
  • Chalking
  • :
  • Pigment turned to powder.
  • Chip / Fracture
  • :
  • Small loss(es) of material e.g. paint, ceramic, veneer, gesso.
  • Cleavage
  • :
  • Separation and lifting of media from the support layer .
  • Crack
  • :
  • Short fault in the body of an object.
  • Crackle Impact / Cracklure
  • :
  • Cracks in radiating circles caused by a blow, can also be caused by tension variables, changes in relative humidity or thickness of primer
  • Cracklure
  • :
  • Network of cracks caused by the shrinking of the medium.
  • Crease
  • :
  • Line or mark made by folding or wrinkling.
  • Criselling
  • :
  • Network of fine cracks on the surface, caused by condensation and dissolution of some of the silicates found in glass.
  • Cupping
  • :
  • Aged paint, loosened by cracking, with edges curling to create cup-like formations.
  • Cut
  • :
  • A straight separation caused by sharp slicing action.
  • Dent
  • :
  • Concave depression in surface(s) or substrate caused by blow or pressure.
  • Dishing
  • :
  • A distortion in the canvas of a painting caused by unequal tension around the stretcher
  • Edge damage
  • :
  • Damage in and confined to the perimeter of an object.
  • Element (s) broken
  • :
  • Forcibly fractured-separted or loose pieces that are extant with the object and could be reattached.
  • Element (s) missing
  • :
  • Elements or portions of any object not with the object at the time of preparing this report. May be stored elsewhere, found later or missing
  • Element (s) separating
  • :
  • Portions of an object that have become unstable or loose.
  • Embrittled
  • :
  • Canvas/Support has become perceptibly fragile to the point of snapping, crumbling or breaking.
  • Faded / Bleached
  • :
  • Losses of brightenss of brilliance of the color(s). UV damage.
  • Fingerprint / handling marks
  • :
  • Marks left behind from handling and may be permanent.
  • Flaking
  • :
  • Serious cracking causing paint and/or ground layer to dislodge from the support.
  • Flight hole
  • :
  • Holes created by wood-boring insects.
  • Fold
  • :
  • Bent or doubled over on itself that can lead to cracking, breaking or fragmentation of image layer or surface
  • Foxing
  • :
  • Reddish-brown 'stains' believed to be caused by metal particles in paper being attacked by micro-organisms.
  • Frass
  • :
  • A powdery residue left by insects; generally associated with flight holes. Old frass may be visible when object is moved or has been transit.
  • Fraying
  • :
  • Raveled or worn spot indicated by the separation of threads, especially on the edge of a fabric.
  • Glaze damage
  • :
  • Surface loss.
  • Gouge
  • :
  • A groove, indentation or cavity resulting from an object pressing or cutting into the surface without completely penetrating the support.
  • Graffiti
  • :
  • Foreign substance applied to an existing object.
  • Hole
  • :
  • Open or hollow loss, other than a puncture
  • Larvae / eggs
  • :
  • Observed presence of insect eggs.
  • Lifting
  • :
  • Areas that have lost adhesion and are no longer firmly fastened to the surface, but are still there.
  • Loss
  • :
  • Areas of paint, finish or surface which have lost adhesion or are missing.
  • Mold / mildew
  • :
  • Any of various fungal growths that dissolve, stain, or degrade the host material. 
  • Mount damage
  • :
  • Some mounts are original to objects and damage should be recorded: e.g. mounted ceramics or pedestals for some sculpture.
  • Normal wear
  • :
  • Evidence of previous use/not original condition.
  • Odor
  • :
  • Distinctive smell emanating from the object.
  • Old impact damage
  • :
  • Evidence of previous damage left untreated.
  • Oxidation
  • :
  • A chemical reaction of oxygen with another material.   Metallic oxidation (rust, copper and brass corrosion), organic oxidation of leathers, woods, textile fibers, etc. are most frequently associated with furniture.
  • Particulates
  • :
  • Very small particles on the surface or the interstices of an object such as dirt, dust, fibers
  • Perforation
  • :
  • Hole/puncture created by a sudden blow to the surface/substrate, can be man-made or a result of natural hazard impact.
  • Previous restoration / conservation
  • :
  • Evidence of previous repairs/treatments.
  • Pull
  • :
  • Mechanical distortion to one or more threads in textile.
  • Residue (s)
  • :
  • Animal, vegetable/mineral or man-made substance adhering to surfaces ---may be old or new.
  • Scratch
  • :
  • Loss of media by marking the surface with something sharp.
  • Shattered
  • :
  • A severe condition where object is in many pieces/contorted and should not be handled without complete documentation of circumstances, notification of all parties concerned before further decisions are made.
  • Shrinkage
  • :
  • Reduction on size from original dimension.
  • Slipped hinge / Faulty Attachment(s)
  • :
  • Articulated fastener that is loose or broken.
  • Smear
  • :
  • Limited adherence of patriculate matter.
  • Spalling
  • :
  • Freeze / thaw damage to some stone over a period of time.
  • Split
  • :
  • A continuing break and parting of material.
  • Stain
  • :
  • Discolored appearance caused by a foreign substance, uneven aging or micro-organisms. 
  • Stretcher marks
  • :
  • A crease or line of cracks in the ground or paint layer of a painting, caused by the support touching against the stretcher.
  • Substrate unstable
  • :
  • Joints may be loose. Mainly caused by temp/rH changes over time, leading to expansion and contraction of secondary woods and damage to surface coatings.
  • Tarnish
  • :
  • Oxidation, darkened surface of silver.
  • Tear
  • :
  • Rupture in support layer resulting from variable stresses or strains.
  • Tide line
  • :
  • Staining in a uneven line, cause by partial immersion of item in water or capillary action.
  • Transference
  • :
  • Presence of pigment or other material carried over to the surface of the object.
  • Upholstery damage
  • :
  • Materials degraded.
  • Warping / Bowing
  • :
  • A structural distortion of the support that may have become twisted, turned or bent is no longer flat or in plane.
  • Water Damage
  • :
  • Staining, planar distortion, finish damage, loosening or other damage caused by contact with water or high RH.

© 2021 - Art Service Group LLC

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy