Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

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Inscription (Physical Description)

Definition:

Observations:

1. An inscription means any mark on the object, a label or a plate attached to the object and that is not a signature.
2. A transliteration means the changing of the actual letters to the corresponding letters of the Latin alphabet.
3. N.B.: Do not confuse the Signature and Inscription fields. Use the Signature field only if the object is signed by the artist or craftsperson. If the object has an inscription, use the Inscription field.
   Example

   A sculpture is signed "A. B. Bélanger" on the back, bottom left. In the centre of the base it is inscribed À MA MÈRE. Under the sculpture is a label from the Galerie Gastaud, 1988.

   	Object Name	sculpture
   	Artist/Maker	Bélanger, Antoine Benoît
   	Signature	on back, b.l.: A. B. Bélanger
   	Inscription	on base, c.: À MA MÈRE; under base, label: Galerie Gastaud, 1988

Entry rules:

1. First of all enter the location of the inscription, followed by a colon, a space and the description of the inscription, respecting the original spelling.
2. When you have to indicate the location of an inscription on a two-dimensional or, if applicable, three-dimensional object, consult the suggested locations in Table 1 for the Signature field and use the appropriate abbreviation to indicate the location of the inscription.
   Example 1

   	Object Name	drawing
   	Inscription	b.r.: Merci pour tout Marie

   Example 2

   	Object Name	table
   	Inscription	underside of drawer, c.: St. John New Brunswick

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

   	Object Name	painting
   	Inscription	on back, t.r.: Quebec Provincial Museum 34-266

4. Indicate the part of the object bearing the inscriptions or labels, followed by a colon, a space and the information as it appears on the object.
   Example

   	Object Name	sculpture
   	Title	Femmes de Caughnawaga
   	Signature	on rear of base: M. Suzor-Côté 1924
   	Inscription	on front of base: FEMMES/DE CAUGHNAWAGA

5. When the inscription is not directly on the support, e.g. on a label, specify that after indicating its location and then enter the description of the inscription.
   Example

   	Object Name	armoire
   	Inscription	on back, b.l., label: exposition, Le Mobilier au Québec, Musée du meuble

6. Do not underline the inscription or put it in quotes, unless this is part of the original inscription. If part of the inscription is illegible, insert three suspension points at the appropriate place, in brackets.
   Example

   A photo bears a handwritten inscription on the back, in the centre. The last word is illegible. It reads: "Saint-Tropez, le 24 juin 1924. En souvenir de notre…"

   	Object Name	photograph
   	Inscription	on back, c.: Saint-Tropez, le 24 juin 1924. En souvenir de notre […]

7. Use a slash ( / ) to indicate each new line in the inscription.
   Example

   	Object Name	painting
   	Title	Portrait de saint Louis, roi de France
   	Inscription	b.: ST LOUIS, ROI DE FRANCE/ÉTRENNE à PAPA,/DE SA PETITE FILLE HENRIETTE, 1ER JANVIER à N.D. de Lévi 1855

8. You may separate the transliteration from the inscription with a dash.
   Example

   	Object Name	drawing
   	Inscription	b.l.: AM – for Ave Maria

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

   	Object Name	print
   	Inscription	b.l.: Épreuve d'artiste; b.c.: J'emporte ma tombe et vous laisse le monde