Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

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Medium (Physical Description)

Definition:

Observations:

1. For better search results in your database, avoid using a large variety of terms; draw up an authority list and add keywords as necessary.¹
2. This field is used in conjunction with the Support field, which indicates the type of support material on which the medium was applied.
   Example

   	Object Name	painting
   	Medium	acrylic
   	Support	paper

3. Use the Medium and Support fields only for two-dimensional objects.
   Example

   	Object Name	photograph
   	Medium	silver print
   	Support	paper

4. For a three-dimensional object, use the Material and Technique fields.
   Example

   	Object Name	sculpture
   	Material	wood; paint
   	Technique	carved; painted

Entry rules:

1. Enter the medium as a singular noun.
   Example

   	Medium	pencil
   	and not
   	Medium	pencilled

2. Do not enter an article or preposition before the medium name.
   Example

   	Medium	pencil
   	and not
   	Medium	in pencil

3. Enter the different media from the most predominant to the least predominant. Multiple entries should be separated by a semicolon followed by a space.
   Example

   	Object Name	drawing
   	Medium	gouache; pencil

4. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the keyword.
   Example

   	Object Name	drawing
   	Medium	chalk ?; charcoal ?