Ceramic and Terracotta

Physical identification

Fired clay, slips, pigments, inclusions, breaks and reconstruction. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Do not soak or chemically clean.
• Salts and old adhesives can become active.
• Repainted surfaces may obscure original fabric.

Provenance and lawful movement

Document texture, joins, deposits, corrosion, movement and prior treatment. Stop handling when surfaces powder, flakes lift, corrosion appears active or cracks move.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.