Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

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Signature (Physical Description)

Definition:

Observation:

• Use this field to provide details on signatures of all kinds, including goldsmiths' marks and cabinetmakers' stamps.
  Example 1

  An altar cross bearing the mark of goldsmith Denis Zola on the base and on the cross

  	Object Name	altar cross
  	Artist/Maker	Zola, Denis
  	Material	metal, silver; metal, gold
  	Signature	on base and on cross: D.Z. in a rectangle with a crown

  Example 2

  A sculpture signed on the back, in the bottom left, A. B. Bélanger

  	Object Name	sculpture
  	Signature	on back, b.l.: A. B. Bélanger

Entry rules:

1. First enter the location of the signature, followed by a colon, a space and the description of the signature, respecting the original spelling.
   Example

   	Object Name	painting
   	Artist/Maker	Derain, André
   	Signature	b.r.: a derain

2. When you have to indicate the location of the signature on a two-dimensional or, if applicable, three-dimensional object, consult Table 1 and use the proper abbreviation to indicate the location of the signature.
   Example 1

   	Object Name	painting
   	Signature	b.r.: W. Brymner 1892

   Example 2

   	Object Name	cupboard
   	Signature	on back, b.l.: A. C. Boulle

3. When a two-dimensional object is signed on the back, enter "on back", a comma, a space and then the location of the signature.
   Example

   	Object Name	painting
   	Artist/Maker	Picasso, Pablo
   	Signature	on back, b.: Picasso

   
   Table 1¹
   
   

   Key :
   t.	top	c.	centre	b.	bottom
   t.c.	top centre	c.l.	centre left	b.l.	bottom left
   t.l.	top left	c.r.	centre right	b.r.	bottom right
   t.r.	top right	b.c.	bottom centre

4. Use a slash ( / ) to indicate each new line in the signature.
   Example

   	Object Name	medallion
   	Artist/Maker	Pisanello
   	Signature	on back, t.r.: apus/pisani/pictoris

5. For unsigned works of art, enter "unsigned".
   Example

   	Object Name	installation
   	Artist/Maker	Van Halm, Renée
   	Signature	unsigned

6. This field may contain multiple entries separated by a semicolon followed by a space.
   Example

   	Object Name	painting
   	Artist/Maker	Cholette, Paul André
   	Signature	on front, b.r.: P. A. Cholette; on back, c.: Paul André Cholette