How to Fill Out a Condition Report

Object:

Write the name of the type of object-doll, desk, vase, fossil, etc.

Owner:

Write the name of the museum or the name of the person who owned it and is lending it for the

exhibit.

Date:

Write today's date.

Description:

S

TRUCTURE OR

R

AW

M

ATERIAL

: Tell what materials the object is made of (e.g., bone, stone)

and for human-made objects how it was made (e.g., hand-built vase of red clay).

G

ENERAL

C

ONDITION

: Tell if it is in excellent, good, fair, or poor condition, and mention any

damage.

S

URFACE

D

ECORATION

: For human-made objects, tell if the object is painted, beaded, glazed,

etc., in what colors and materials (e.g., quilt has red cotton thread embroidery on the bor-

der). If it is a fine art piece (painting, sculpture, etc.) tell what type of style and medium were

used.

C

ONSERVATION

N

EEDED

: Write what, if anything, needs to be repaired before the exhibit (e.g.,

doll clothes need to be washed and ironed, or broken airplane wing needs to be glued, a

tear in the canvas needs to be fixed, fossil is broken and needs to be glued).

Storage Method:

Tell where you think you should store the object before the exhibit (closet, drawer,

box), according to what kind of protection it needs.

Drawing:

Make a simple outline sketch of the object. Then show the locations of any areas that appear

to be damaged. Connect the damage mark with a label describing the damage. (e.g., 2-inch

jagged crack on neck of vase, black smoke mark). Draw the rear view on the reverse.

2-inch jagged crack on neck

Black smoke mark