CIDOC Guidelines for Museum Object Information: Mark and Inscription Information Group

This page is part of the International Guidelines for Museum Object Information: The CIDOC Information Categories: a description of the Information Categories that can be used when developing records about the objects in museum collections. For an outline of the Information Groups and Categories in the Guidelines, turn to the introductory list.

Mark and Inscription Information Group

Purpose:

Mark and inscription information supports Security, Accountability, Access, and an Historic archive. It enables the retrieval of lost property and the unique identification of otherwise similar objects and can be of particular research significance.

Information categories:

Mark/inscription text
Mark/inscription type
Mark/inscription description
Mark/inscription technique
Mark/inscription position
Mark/inscription language
Mark/inscription translation

Examples:

Mark/inscription text: SI DEVS NOBISCVM QVIS CONTRA NOS
Mark/inscription type: inscription
Mark/inscription technique: engraved
Mark/inscription position: bowl, under rim
Mark/inscription language: Latin
Mark/inscription translation: If God be with us, who shall be against us

Notes:

• This Information Group should be repeated for each inscription.

Mark/inscription text

Definition:

The text inscribed on an object, recorded in the original language.

Examples:

Made in Hong Kong

Notes:

• Record the mark or inscription exactly as it appears on the object, using the same capitalization and punctuation. Use a slash (/) or other character to indicate line breaks.
• If the alphabet of an inscription is different to that normally used by an institution then the inscription should be transliterated according to the standard scheme normally used by the institution.

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Mark/inscription type

Definition:

The form or function of the inscription.

Examples:

hallmark
stamp
signature

Notes:

• It is recommended that controlled terms are used for this Information Category. Refer to the "Content and terminology control" section in the Introduction for further guidance on sources of controlled terminology.

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Mark/inscription description

Definition:

A description of any non textual marks inscribed on an object.

Examples:

Capital A in a circle with a line underneath

Notes:

• An image can be useful in recording this information.

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Mark/inscription technique

Alternate names:

Mark/inscription method

Definition:

The method used to inscribe a mark or text on an object.

Examples:

engraved
painted

Notes:

• It is recommended that controlled terms are used for this Information Category. Refer to the "Content and terminology control" section in the Introduction for further guidance on sources of controlled terminology.

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Mark/inscription position

Definition:

A term describing the position of an inscription on an object.

Examples:

inside rim

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Mark/inscription language

Definition:

The original language used in a textual inscription on an object.

Examples:

French
Japanese
English

Notes:

• It is recommended that controlled terms are used for this Information Category. Refer to the "Content and terminology control" section in the Introduction for further guidance on sources of controlled terminology.

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Mark/inscription translation

Definition:

A translation into the institution's first language of a textual inscription on an object.

Examples:

Cast in Italy
Fabrique en Angleterre

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Move to outline of the Information Groups and Categories or the next section of the Guidelines, Material and technique

file: guidemar.htm; author: CIDOC; updated June 1995