DEACCESSIONING

By

Kari Atkinson

Sara Berkovec

Miao Han

Kari O’Mara

DEFINITION

Deaccessioning is the formal change in the recorded status of a museum object.

Image taken from http://www.aam-us.org/pubs/mn/deaccession.cfm

WHY DEACCESSION?

The object is not within the scope or mission of the institution

The object is beyond the capability of the institution to maintain

The object is not useful for research, exhibition, or educational programs in the foreseeable future

There are duplicates of the object in the collection The object is a poor, less important, incomplete,

or unauthentic example The object is composed of physically deteriorated

and/or hazardous material

WHY DEACCESSION CONT.

The object was originally acquired illegally or unethically

The object is subject to a legislative mandate, such as repatriation

The object is subject to contractual donor restrictions that the institution is no longer able to meet

The object is found to be part of a set that belongs to another institution, or is more appropriate to the collection of another institution

In the case of living collections, the death of a specimen

METHODS OF DISPOSAL

Return to donor Donation to another institution for

educational purposes Exchange between institutions Transfer into an educational or research

program Repatriation Selling (public auction or private sale) Physical destruction

RETURNS

•Returning objects to their donors is not usually the best option for an institution, except repatriation

•This option should only be used rarely, and should be carefully discussed with legal counsel

TRADING

•Exchange

•Transfer/Donation

ADVANTAGES

Prevents and/or relieves overcrowding of storage areas

Provides the public with access to the items

Meets the requirements of donor agreements

Provides an opportunity for whole collection assessment

EXCHANGE

Reasons: Replace an object not within the institution’s

scope or mission for one that is Exchange a duplicate item for an item unique

to the collection Exchanged objects should be of relatively

equal value All exchanges, especially those with private

parties, needs to be justified Requires excellent documentation Requires a good independent appraisal

TRANSFER/DONATION

Reasons: The object legally belongs to another institution The object can be better cared for by another

institution The object must be removed from the institution’s

collection Objects removed from a collection can be donated

to educational and/or research programs These objects might be subject to deterioration and

destruction due to use Odalisque by Henri Matisse 1928. Image taken from

http://aamdobjectregistry.org/node/51

SELLING

•Private Sale

•Public Auction

PRIVATE SALE

Not a standard method of disposal Used when a public auction is not possible

or practical Generally done through consignment Institution must be prepared to honestly

answer outside inquiries

PUBLIC AUCTION

Common method of disposal Used when the institution needs to

generate funds Subjected to close public scrutiny

Image taken from http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2008/11/02-week/

PREPARATION FOR SALE

Auction house selection Research multiple auction

houses Some considerations

Cost Marketing strategies Reputation Sale location

Record keeping and provenance Needs to be up-to-date and

accurate

Image taken from http://www.supremefiction.com/theidea/art/page/2/

PREPARATION FOR SALE CONTINUED

Contracts Should include

Publicity Price reserves Insurance Unsold items Physical care

Care and handling of materials Handled by the Registrar Escort/handler Inspection of facility and security

Image taken from http://artshippingboxes.org/art-shipping-materials

POST-SALE

May include publication of the sales results

Reiterate how the proceeds will be used All unsold items are dealt with per

contract terms

Image taken from http://www.artworldsalon.com/blog/category/art-politics/page/2/

ETHICS

Generally refer to the use of the proceeds Most common are:

Prohibition of sale or transfer of items to museum staff, trustees, and/or relatives

Proceeds are used for new acquisitions and/or direct care of the collection only

Proceeds may not be used for institutional operations/facility maintenance

DESTRUCTION

•Educational and Research Programs

•Physical Destruction

EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Uses Scientific study School programs Hands-on demonstrations Exhibition props Conversational testing

Image taken from http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/conservation/book/

PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION

Reasons

•Deterioration

•Hazardous

• Unauthorized or Counterfeit

Image taken from http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3860087356_bbcbf412fb.jpg

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Ethylene Oxide

ArsenicDichlorvos (Vapona)

TobaccoCamphor

• StrychnineMercuric Chloride

• Naphthalene• Paradichlorobenzene (PDB)• Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane

(DDT)• Methyl Bromide and Cyanide

Sybarizing (Siburizing)• Potassium Cyanide

THE ASSOCIATION OF ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS (AZA)

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/04/korean-zoo-is-bursting-with-babies.html

THE NATIONAL ZOO

•Dealing with aging animals

•Euthanize

•Necropsy

Image taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/tolfa/126539892/sizes/m/in/photostream/

REFERENCES

American Association of Museums. The New Museum Registration Methods. Ed. Rebecca. A. Buck, and Jean Allman Gilmore. Washington: American Association of Museums, 1998. Print.

Deaccession and Disposition of Museum Objects and Collections Procedure Criteria (Appendix A). Alberta, 28 Mar. 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.conman.ualberta.ca/stellent/groups/public/@academic/documents/procedure/pp_cmp_064185.hcsp>.

"Hazardous Materials In Your Collection." Conserve O Gram 2/10 (Aug. 1998). National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.

Museum Objects and Collections Acquisition Procedure. Alberta, 28 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.conman.ualberta.ca/stellent/groups/public/@academic/documents/procedure/pp_cmp_064171.hcsp>.

Range, Daniel. “Deaccessioning and Its Costs in the Holocaust Art Context: The United States and Great Britian.” Texas International Law Journal 39.4 (2004) : 655-673. Print.

Return of Cultural Property and Repatriation of Museum Objects Procedure. Alberta, 16 July. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.conman.ualberta.ca/stellent/groups/public/@academic/documents/procedure/pp_cmp_064173.hcsp>.

"The Accreditation Standards and Related Policies." Association of Zoo and Aquariums. 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2011.