Select Page

Condition Diagrams & Reports

by | Jul 16, 2018 | Conservation, Diagrams

“The Baltimore Collection”: Condition Diagram Description

The American Institute for Conservation’s (AIC) Code of Ethics requires the complete and permanent documentation of an object’s characteristics and condition prior to conservation treatment. Producing an accurate record of facts and observations regarding an object at a given point in time provides (1) information that may help define current and future preservation needs; (2) a reference that can be used to identify changes to the object over time; and (3) technical analysis and  knowledge gained from scientific study. Detailed examination reports may increase appreciation of an object’s value and significance, while also contributing to the profession’s body of knowledge. With so many aspects of an object to consider, purely written documentation can become lengthy and convoluted. As a result, conservators may provide documentation in various formats including Condition Diagrams, also referred to as Visual Condition Reports. These diagrams convey a large amount of information in a way that is easier to absorb and process.

Turning an object’s characteristics and damages into a visual image can help identify patterns, which could point to an object’s history and/or likely sources of damage, that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. It also makes it easier for those safeguarding these objects to track changes over time. “The Baltimore Collection” includes a large variety of photographic processes, and their documentation was executed by students in the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation’s Photograph Conservation Block (ARTC 655), January 2018.  To help keep the documentation of the collection consistent, we developed a visual key. We did this by first establishing color coded categories of damages/conditions. The resulting categories are sometimes broad, to allow for the incorporation of various issues into a single comprehensive type of damage, and sometimes specific, to highlight crucial condition issues. Photoshop was then used to overlay the appropriate color over the damage &/or condition in individual layers. Various opacities of each color were used to allow the objects’ conditions to be mapped, while not completely obstructing the ability to see the photographic images underneath. We hope that the inclusion of this visual form of documentation will reinforce and promote the goals of this website, which is to provide clear and fundamental information about these images in a manner that is accessible to all those who are interested, whether they be academics, conservators, or the general public. ~Karissa Muratore, Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation Class of 2020

Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0041

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0010

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0004

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks indicating deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0048

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0032

Condition Report

Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0053
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0026

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0006

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0027

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0034
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0047

Condition Report
Black and white photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0049

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0046

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0044

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0043

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0042

Condition Report

Photograph back with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0040 – back
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0040

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0039

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0038

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0037

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0035

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0001

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.017.002

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0003

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0005

Condition Report

Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0007
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0008

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0009

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0011

Extended Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession 2001.0017.0012

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0013a

Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0013b
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0014

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0015

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0016

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0018

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0019a

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report

Photograph back with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0019b
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0020

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0021

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0022

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0023a

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report

Photograph postcard back with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0023b
Photograph with polychrome marks indicating deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0024

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0028
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0029

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0030

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0031
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0033

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0036

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0045

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0050

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0051

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0052

Condition Report
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0017a

Extended Condition Report

Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0017b
Photograph with polychrome marks to indicate deterioration

Accession #2001.0017.0025

Condition Report
Extended Condition Report

Print Friendly, PDF & Email