Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

Les guides électroniques de la SMQ

Support (Physical Description)

Field to be used with an authority listField used for ethnology and history collectionsField used for fine and decorative arts collectionsSociété des musées québécois Info-Muse database field

Definition:

  • This field contains the materials used as the main support for a two-dimensional object (painting, print, photograph, etc.).

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 Medium field, which indicates the media applied to the support.
    Example

      Object Name painting
      Medium oil
    Support wood
  3. Use the Medium and Support fields only for two-dimensional objects.
    Example

      Object Namephotograph
      Medium silver print
    Supportpaper
  4. For three-dimensional objects, use the Material and Technique fields.
    Example

      Object Name sculpture
      Material wood; paint
      Technique carved; painted

Entry rules:

  1. Enter the name of the support as a singular noun.
  2. Multiple supports should be entered from the most predominant to the least predominant. Entries should be separated by a semicolon followed by a space.
    Example

      Object Name drawing
      Medium ink
    Support Japanese paper; cardboard
  3. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the keyword.
    Example

      Object Namepainting
      Mediumoil
    Supportchipboard ?

 
  1. You can consult Bénichou, Anne. Documentation Standards in Contemporary Art. Ottawa: Canadian Heritage Information Network, 1993. [Information up to date as of June 20, 2006].
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