deaccession
Formally remove artwork
To deaccession is to formally remove an item from an institution's permanent collection, typically a museum, library, or archive.
The term implies proper procedure—review, documentation, and authorized disposal through sale, trade, or gift.
Deaccessioning controversial works or selling pieces to cover operating costs often draws criticism: The museum deaccessioned several paintings to fund renovations.
Act of taking away
- divestmentDisposal of assets
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- auctionCompetitive public sale
- surplusAmount exceeding requirement
consignment · disposal · sell-off · clearance · downsizing · relinquishment · transfer · removal
Gathered set of items
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
exhibit · registrar · catalogue · heritage · conservation · preservation · curatorial · repatriation
Record of ownership
- repatriationFormal return to homeland
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- fiduciaryAgent bound by loyalty
- transparencyState of being see-through
donor · bequest · endowment · policy · guidelines · oversight · accountability · controversy
Stored data or albums
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- documentsFormal written records
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
- repositoryPlace for storing things
digitization · classification · inventory · documentation · preservation · conservation · holdings · appraisal
withdrawal
Act of taking away
- divestmentDisposal of assets
- liquidationSelling assets for cash
- auctionCompetitive public sale
surplus · consignment · disposal · sell-off · clearance · downsizing · relinquishment · transfer · removal · cull
collection
Gathered set of items
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- provenanceRecord of ownership
- artifactHuman-made historical object
gallery · exhibit · registrar · catalogue · heritage · conservation · preservation · curatorial · repatriation · ethnography
provenance
Record of ownership
- repatriationFormal return to homeland
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- fiduciaryAgent bound by loyalty
transparency · donor · bequest · endowment · policy · guidelines · oversight · accountability · controversy · looting
records
Stored data or albums
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- documentsFormal written records
- manuscriptsHandwritten or typed originals
repository · digitization · classification · inventory · documentation · preservation · conservation · holdings · appraisal · retention
deaccessionaccession
Attainment of high office
acquire · accessioning · acquisition · collect · purchase
access, accessible, accede, accession, cession, acceding, acceded, accedes, accessioning