A-Z Glossary of Art Collecting, Collection Management, and Conservation
A
Acquisition (noun) /ˌakwɪˈzɪʃ(ə)n/ – The process of purchasing or obtaining an artwork for a collection.
Appraisal (noun) /əˈpreɪz(ə)l/ – A professional assessment of an artwork’s value, often for insurance or sale purposes.
Archival (adjective) /ɑːˈkʌɪv(ə)l/ – Referring to materials or practices designed for long-term preservation, ensuring stability and protection from deterioration.
Archival Framing (noun) /ˈɑːkaɪvl ˈfreɪmɪŋ/ – A conservation-grade method of framing that protects artwork from deterioration.
Artist’s Proof (noun) /ˈɑːtɪsts pruːf/ – A limited number of prints set aside for the artist’s personal use, typically outside the numbered edition.
Artist Estate (noun) /ˈɑːtɪst ɪˈsteɪt/ – The body responsible for managing an artist’s works, intellectual property, and legacy after their death.
Attributed to (phrase) /əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tuː/ – A term used when an artwork is believed to be created by a particular artist but lacks definitive authentication.
B
Bid (noun/verb) /bɪd/ – A monetary offer made by a prospective buyer at an auction.
Biennale (noun) /biːˈɛnɑːleɪ/ – A large international contemporary art exhibition held every two years.
Brackets (Hanging System) (noun) /ˈbrakɪts/ – A secure method for mounting artworks on walls.
Blue Chip (adjective) /bluː tʃɪp/ – Refers to artworks by established, highly valuable artists with consistent market demand.
Blockchain (noun) /ˈblɒktʃeɪn/ – A decentralised digital ledger used to verify and track the ownership and provenance of digital and physical artworks.
Bought in (phrase) /bɔːt ɪn/ – A term used in auctions when an artwork fails to meet its reserve price and remains unsold. The work is then retained by the seller or consigned for a future sale.
Buyer’s Premium (noun) /ˈbaɪəz ˈpriːmɪəm/ – An additional fee paid by the winning bidder on top of the hammer price at an auction, typically calculated as a percentage of the final bid and charged by the auction house.
C
Cataloguing (noun/verb) /ˈkætəlɒɡɪŋ/ – The process of systematically documenting an artwork’s key details, including title, artist, date, medium, dimensions, provenance, exhibition history, and condition. Used for collection management, appraisal, and research purposes.
Catalogue Raisonné (noun) /ˈkætəlɒɡ ˌreɪzəˈneɪ/ – A comprehensive, scholarly listing of all known artworks by an artist.
Certificate of Authenticity (noun) /səˈtɪfɪkət əv ɔːˌθɛntɪˈsɪtɪ/ – A document that verifies the authenticity of an artwork, often issued by the artist or a recognised authority.
Collection Catalogue (noun) /kəˈlɛkʃ(ə)n ˈkætəlɒɡ/ – A detailed inventory of artworks within a collection, documenting key information such as provenance, condition, and exhibition history.
Collection Management (noun) /kəˈlɛkʃ(ə)n ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ – The professional care, documentation, and maintenance of an art collection.
Collection Manager (noun) /kəˈlɛkʃ(ə)n ˈmænɪdʒər/ – A professional responsible for overseeing the care, documentation, and logistics of an art collection.
Collector (noun) /kəˈlɛktər/ – An individual who acquires and maintains an art collection, either for personal enjoyment or investment.
Condition Report (noun) /kənˈdɪʃ(ə)n rɪˈpɔːt/ – A detailed assessment of an artwork’s physical state, often used before transport or sale.
Conservation (noun) / kɒn.səˈveɪ.ʃən/ - (Discipline): A field focused on treatment, preventive care, and research to preserve cultural and natural heritage. It emphasises maintaining the layers of significance that objects/items acquire over time, rather than restoring them to an imagined former or 'as new' condition.
Conservation (noun) / kɒn.səˈveɪ.ʃən/ - (Process): The action of preserving the existence, state, health, or integrity of something by protecting it from destructive influences, decay, or waste. This can apply to buildings, objects, environments, species, or other entities.
Commission (verb) /kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ – A request or contract for an artist to create a specific artwork, often tailored to a client’s requirements in terms of subject, medium, or size.
Commission (noun) /kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ – A fee paid to an intermediary, such as a dealer, gallery, or auction house, for facilitating the sale of an artwork, typically calculated as a percentage of the final sale price.
Consignor (noun) /kənˈsaɪnɔːr/ – The individual, gallery, or institution that entrusts an artwork to an auction house or dealer for sale, retaining ownership until the piece is sold.
Copyright (noun) /ˈkɒpiraɪt/ – The legal right granted to an artist or their estate to control the reproduction, distribution, and use of their artwork, typically lasting for the artist’s lifetime plus a set number of years, depending on jurisdiction.
Credit line noun) /ˈkrɛdɪt laɪn/ – The attribution accompanying an artwork in exhibitions, publications, or collections, usually listing the artist’s name, title of the work, date, medium, and collection details.
Curator (noun) /kjʊəˈreɪtər/ – A specialist responsible for selecting, interpreting, and managing artworks within a collection or exhibition.
D
Deaccessioning (verb) /ˌdiːækˈsɛʃ(ə)nɪŋ/ – The process of permanently removing an artwork from a collection.
Due Diligence (noun) /djuː ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)ns/ – The research process undertaken to verify an artwork’s authenticity, provenance, and legal status.
E
Edition (noun) /ɪˈdɪʃ(ə)n/ – A set number of prints or multiples produced from an original artwork.
Estimate (noun) /ˈɛstɪmeɪt/ – The price range provided by an auction house or dealer as a guideline for a potential sale, based on market trends, past sales, and the artwork’s attributes.
Exhibition History (noun) /ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃ(ə)n ˈhɪst(ə)ri/ – A record of the public displays of an artwork, often influencing its value.
F
Fair market value (noun) /fɛə ˈmɑːrkɪt ˈvæljuː/ – The price an artwork would reasonably sell for on the open market between a willing buyer and a willing seller, often used for appraisals, insurance, and tax purposes.
Flipping (verb) /ˈflɪpɪŋ/ – The rapid resale of an artwork for profit, often shortly after acquisition.
G
Guarantee (noun) /ˌɡærənˈtiː/ – A financial agreement in which an auction house or third party assures a seller a minimum price for an artwork, regardless of the final auction result.
H
Hammer price (noun) /ˈhæmər praɪs/ – The final bid amount at an auction, excluding additional fees such as the buyer’s premium and taxes, announced when the auctioneer’s gavel (hammer) falls.
I
Iconography (noun) /ˌaɪkəˈnɒɡrəfi/ – The study and interpretation of visual symbols and themes in artworks.
Impasto (noun) /ɪmˈpæstəʊ/ – A painting technique where thick layers of paint are applied to create texture.
L
Lot (noun) /lɒt/ – An individual artwork or group of artworks offered for sale as a single unit in an auction.
M
Medium (noun) /ˈmiːdiəm/ – The material or technique used to create an artwork, such as oil paint, sculpture, or digital media.
N
Non-Fungible Token (NFT) (noun) /ˌnɒn ˈfʌndʒɪb(ə)l ˈtəʊkən/ - A unique digital certificate of ownership often linked to digital artworks, verified using blockchain technology. NFTs have become a significant aspect of the contemporary art market.
Nitrate Degradation (noun) /ˈnaɪtreɪt ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/ - A conservation concern, particularly with early film, photographic materials, and certain plastics that deteriorate over time and may become unstable.
O
Object Label (noun) /ˈɒbdʒɛkt ˈleɪb(ə)l/ - A label accompanying an artwork in a collection or exhibition that includes essential details such as title, artist, medium, date, and provenance.
Overpainting (noun) /ˌəʊvəˈpeɪntɪŋ/ - A later addition of paint applied over the original surface, often discovered through conservation analysis or during restoration work.
Oxidation (noun) /ˌɒksɪˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/ - A chemical reaction affecting certain pigments and materials (such as metal or oil paints), resulting in discolouration or deterioration, often relevant in condition reports and conservation treatment.
P
Price on Request (POR) (phrase) – A pricing practice used by galleries and dealers where the cost of an artwork is not publicly listed, requiring potential buyers to inquire directly.
Provenance (noun) /ˈprɒv(ə)nəns/ – The documented history of an artwork’s ownership, location, and transfer from creation to the present. A well-established provenance helps verify authenticity, establish value, and confirm legal title. A complete provenance should give a history of the artworks history from the date the wok left the artist’s studio to the present day.
Portfolio (noun) /pɔːrˈtfəʊliəʊ/ – A collection of an artist’s works, or a selection of artworks owned by a collector, often assembled for presentation, investment, or sales purposes.
Q
Quattrocento (noun) /ˌkwɑːtrəʊˈtʃɛntəʊ/ - An Italian term meaning “four hundred,” used to describe the art and architecture of the 15th century in Italy, particularly during the Early Renaissance. Relevant for collectors of Old Masters or historical European art.
Quire (noun) /kwaɪə/ - A traditional term in bookbinding referring to a set of folded sheets (typically 24 or 25) sewn together, forming a section of a manuscript or book. Often encountered in cataloguing rare books, archival materials, and historical works on paper.
R
Restoration (noun) /ˌres.tərˈeɪ.ʃən/ – The process of altering an object or structure to reflect its original condition, or a specific historical state. This is often achieved by removing later additions or recreating missing parts.
Reserve Price (noun) /rɪˈzɜːv praɪs/ – The minimum price a seller is willing to accept at auction.
Risk Plan (noun) /rɪsk plæn/ – A response plan outlining procedures to protect and recover artworks in the event of fire, water damage, or other emergencies. Also called Disaster Recovery Plan.
Recto (noun) /ˈrek.təʊ/ - the front of a piece of paper, document, or work of art.
S
Screen print (noun) /ˈskriːnprɪnt/ – A printmaking technique where ink is pushed through a stencil on a mesh screen.
Sculpture (noun) /ˈskʌlptʃər/ – A three-dimensional work of art created by carving, modelling, or assembling materials.
Seller’s Commission (noun) /ˈsɛləz kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ – A fee charged by an auction house or dealer to the seller of an artwork, typically calculated as a percentage of the final sale price. This commission covers the costs associated with marketing, cataloguing, and facilitating the sale. It is usually negotiated in advance and may vary based on the value or prominence of the artwork.
T
Triptych (noun) /ˈtrɪptɪk/ – An artwork consisting of three panels, often hinged together.
U
UV Protection (noun) /ˌjuː viː prəˈtɛkʃ(ə)n/ – Measures taken to shield artworks from harmful ultraviolet light, preventing fading and deterioration.
V
Valuation (noun) /ˌvæljuˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ – The process of determining an artwork’s financial worth, typically conducted for insurance, estate planning, or sales purposes.
Varnish (noun) /ˈvɑːnɪʃ/ – A protective coating applied to paintings to enhance colour depth and durability.
Verso (noun) /ˈvɜːrsəʊ/ – The reverse side of a sheet of paper or a bound page, opposite of recto.
Video (noun) /ˈvɪdioʊ/ – A digital or analogue moving-image artwork.
W
Watercolour (noun) /ˈwɔːtəkʌlər/ – A painting medium that uses pigments suspended in water.
White Cube (noun) /waɪt kjuːb/ – A minimalistic gallery space designed to focus attention solely on the artworks displayed.
White glove sale (noun) /waɪt ɡlʌv seɪl/ – An auction in which every lot in a sale achieves a successful bid, indicating strong demand and market confidence.
Z
Zeitgeist (noun) /ˈzaɪtɡaɪst/ – The defining artistic, cultural, and intellectual trends of a particular period.