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MEDIUM - Humanities

Field label
MEDIUM
Field mnemonic
MED
Field name
  • Medium
  • Médium
Field definition
This field lists the methods, processes or materials used to create a two-dimensional object such as a painting, print or photograph.
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 the medium in a logical order. Multiple entries are allowed. If the sequence of application is known, list in order of application. Or, if the prominence or importance of materials is obvious, list them in order of importance, with the most prominent or important first. Terms should be singular nouns, except where the singular is inappropriate. Do not use abbreviations. Use lowercase except where the material is distinguished by a proper noun, such as Conté crayon, or is known by its brand name. 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. Uncertain data should be followed by space and "?".
Cataloguers rules
This field must be used in conjunction with the Support (SUP) field which will contain the primary support. For three-dimensional works, use the Material (MA) and Technique (MT) fields. See also, Support (SUP), Material (MA), and Technique (MT).
Data type
alpha-numeric string
Examples
  • oil
  • watercolour
  • pencil
  • pastel
  • gold leaf
  • egg tempera
  • huile
  • aquarelle
  • crayon
  • pastel ?
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
  • Art
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)
MÉDIUM
Field mnemonic (French)
MED

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