MATERIAL - Humanities
- Field label
- MATERIAL
- Field mnemonic
- MA
- Field name
-
- Material
- Matériaux
- Field definition
- This field lists the materials used to make a three-dimensional object such as a sculpture, historical artifact or ethnographic artifact. Materials are listed from the most to the least predominant.
- Status
- Strongly recommended for uploading to Artefacts Canada. Required field for uploading to Artefacts Canada for data contributed to Artefacts Canada as part of a CHIN-funded project (e.g. VMC) where applicable for the object.
- Heading
- DESCRIPTIVE FIELDS
- Comments
- Edits were made to this field in May 2010. Data entry rules were made more precise, and harmonized with those recommended in Cataloging Cultural Objects: A Guide to Describing Cultural Works and Their Images. By Murtha Baca, Patricia Harpring, Elisa Lanzi, Linda McRae, and Ann Whiteside. Visual Resources Association. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006. Website: http://www.vrafoundation.org/ccoweb/index.htm (accessed 2010-03-05).
- Entry rules
- Enter singular nouns except where it is inappropriate to do so. Multiple entries are allowed. Where appropriate, use the plural form instead of the singular; that is, use terminology that reflects the characteristics of the work being catalogued, if possible. For example, if several feathers have been applied as a material, the plural term feathers should be used. Do not use abbreviations. Use lowercase except where the material is distinguished by a proper noun, such as Carrara marble, or is known by its brand name, such as FormicaTM. Do not use brand names unless the material is known exclusively or primarily by that term. Use terminology in the language of the catalogue record. Include the appropriate diacritical marks. Use natural word order. Enter the materials from the most to the least predominant. Uncertain data should be followed by space and "?". If your system does not support links to a hierarchical thesaurus (with relationships to broader and narrower terms), you may wish to include both broader and narrower terms within this field (e.g. wood, pine).
- Cataloguers rules
- This field should be used in conjunction with the Technique field (MT). A two-dimensional item, eg. painting, print, or photograph should use the Medium (MED) and Support (SUP) fields. See also, Technique (MT), Medium (MED), Support (SUP), Additive Material (MAAD), and Alternate Material Name (MAA).
- Data type
- alpha-numeric string
- Reference
- Ewing, Calum. 1992. Standards for the Use of the Material, Technique and Related Fields in the CHIN Humanities Databases. Manuscript. Canadian Heritage Information Network, Ottawa.
- Examples
-
- pine
- wood, pine
- metal
- fibre
- pin
- bois, pin
- métal, or
- fibre
- Authority list
- • Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT). J. Paul Getty Trust. Website: http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/vocabularies/aat (accessed 2010-03-05). The Materials Facet is especially relevant for this field • Ewing, Calum. 1992. Standards for the Use of the Material, Technique and Related Fields in the CHIN Humanities Databases. Ottawa, Canadian Heritage Information Network. • Ministère de la culture et de la communication de France, Base de données Joconde, Vocabulaires scientifiques pour la description des collections. Website: http://www.culture.gouv.fr/documentation/joconde/fr/partenaires/AIDEMUSEES/telechargement.htm (accessed 2010-03-05). List technique – matériaux is the most relevant for this field. • British Museum Materials Thesaurus. Website: http://www.mda.org.uk/bmmat/matintro.htm (accessed 2010-03-05).
- Discipline
-
- Multidiscipline
- Source
-
- Archaeology (Specimens) Task Force
- History Task Force
- Ethnology Task Force
- Cataloging Cultural Objects: A Guide to Describing Cultural Works and Their Images. By Murtha Baca, Patricia Harpring, Elisa Lanzi, Linda McRae, and Ann Whiteside. Visual Resources Association. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006. Pages 121-134. Website: http://www.vraweb.org/ccoweb/cco/about.html (accessed 2013-10-28).
- Field label (French)
- MATÉRIAUX
- Field mnemonic (French)
- MA
Contact information for this web page
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To suggest edits or updates to this page, please contact the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) directly.