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GLOSSARY
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C
cabinet cards
Mounted portrait photographs attached to cardboard, often with the photographer's name on the back or on the bottom margin of the cardboard mount. They were popular from the late 1860s and were four times larger than cartes-de-visite. Cabinet cards were small enough to fit in albums but large enough to frame. The name is believed to come from the first showings of the photos-in display cabinets. See also Carte-de-visite.
calibrate
To check, and correct if necessary, the accuracy of an instrument against a standard.
camera obscura
An early form of camera consisting of a darkened box with a hole-or lens-in one side which casts an image of an object onto a ground glass screen or sheet of paper. The image was then traced rather than recorded photographically.
carbonaceous
A substance which contains carbon.
carcinogen
A substance which produces a cancer in a body.
carte-de-visite
A photograph, originally albumen, attached to a cardboard backingand used as a visitor's card. The photographs were nearly always portraits and were collected enthusiastically and mounted in albums. The mass-produced photographs were taken by a camera which could take more than one image on a single glass plate negative. They were popular from 1860 to the late 1890s.
cataloguing
Creating a record according to specific and uniform principles of construction. Museum cataloguing usually includes details of any numbers assigned to the object; the object name; details of manufacture; history and use; storage location; physical condition; and often some form of classification.
Cellair
A thin polyethylene foam padding, used for packaging, wrapping, and the lining of rebates and frames. A similar product is called Protecta Foam-this is a trademark/brand name.
cellulose, cellulose fibres
A complex carbohydrate forming the walls of the cells in all plants. The chief source of cellulose is wood, cotton and other fibrous materials, for example, flax and hemp. Cellulose is the raw material for the manufacture of paper, rayon, cellulose lacquers and films.
cellulose nitrate
Cellulose nitrates are a range of compounds formed by treating cellulose with a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. They are used in the manufacture of plastics, lacquers and explosives. They were also used extensively as a film base until 1951, but were abandoned for this purpose because of their high flammability. See also Nitrate film.
chemical deterioration
Deterioration caused by chemical changes within a substance, or by chemicals from another source acting on the structure of a substance.
chemical reaction
The process by which chemicals combine with each other to form products which differ from, or alter, the original substances.
chloride
Often found in nature in a chemical compound called salt where chloride is chemically bound to a metal such as sodium. Chloride salts may cause abrasions or produce harmful chemical reactions such as those associated with bronze disease.
chlorinated hydrocarbons
Any of a wide variety of organic compounds, liquids and solids. Cholorinated hydrocarbons are produced when chlorine is chemically combined with hydrocarbons such as methane, ethylene and benzene. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are used as solvents and plasticisers. Polyvinyl chloride-PVC-is a plastic form of chlorinated hydrocarbon. See also PVC.
chocs, chocks
See Keys.
Cibachrome
A photographic process for making colour prints from colour slides or transparencies. It produces a high-quality, direct, positive photograph using a silver dye-bleach process. Cibachromes were produced with gloss or pearl finishes; gloss cibachromes have a longer life expectancy. The name was changed to Ilfochrome in 1992.
clamshell box
Well-made storage boxes for individual books, similar to Solander boxes. They are handmade and are relatively expensive. See also Solander box.
classification
Assigning objects into groups within a system of categories. Classifying or grouping similar objects helps in retrieval when the objects are required.
clear title
Ownership without restrictions or conditions. It is important to establish clear title when accepting donations or bequests to collections.
cleavage
The separation of the layers of paint from the ground of a painting, which may cause cracking and blistering between layers. This eventually causes the paint to flake off.
coated paper
A slick, glossy paper, usually very opaque white, created by coating the surface with adhesives, clay, calcium carbonate or other mineral pigments to provide a smoother base for printing. Also called glossy paper. Coated papers often stick together when wet.
cockling
Wrinkling or puckering caused when paper, fabric, or any sheet of support material dries unevenly.
collection
The body of acquired objects held in title by the collecting organisation; or the accumulated items held by a collector.
collection management
All activities related to the care of a collection from the time an object is acquired to its eventual disposal. Collection management covers documentation-registration, accessioning, cataloguing; handling-storage, conservation, display; loan and disposal of objects.
collection survey
Information collected about the state of a collection or part of a collection, at a given time. Collection surveys can be as broad or as detailed as necessary. They are a snapshot of the collection, and a means of examining and recording the condition of a whole collection, rather than of a particular item. Collection surveys are useful for resource planning, collection maintenance, and developing conservation plans. Also called conservation surveys.
collodion
A solution of cellulose nitrate compound in a mixture of alcohol and ether. It was used in photography as the basis for the wet collodion process from the 1850s.
composite object
An object made up of different materials; for example, metal and wood; leather, wood and feathers. Care must be taken that storage and display conditions are suitable for all the materials which make up the object.
condensation
The process by which a gas or vapour becomes a liquid. In museums, galleries and libraries, a change in relative humidity can cause condensation of water in enclosed cases, causing damage to objects.
condition report
A document which details the condition of an object and is used as a tool to determine change in the object over time. Ideally, condition reports should be produced as soon as an object is acquired. They may also be produced as part of a collection survey; prior to conservation treatment; or as documentation to accompany travelling exhibitions or loans.
conditioned, conditioning
Conditioning is a process of gradual adjustment to new and/or different conditions of temperature and relative humidity. This is achieved through small incremental exposures to the new environment over time. The length of time that conditioning takes will depend on the item and the extent of the environmental differences. See also Acclimatise.
conservation
All actions aimed at safeguarding cultural material for the future. Its purpose is to study, record, retain and restore the culturally significant qualities of an object with the least possible intervention. See also Preservation; Preventive conservation; Restoration.
conservation framing
Conservation approved framing methods using acid-free materials which protect artwork, documents and photographic prints and help prolong their lives. See also Conservation mounting
conservation grade
An indication of the purity or quality of materials used in conservation. Conservation-grade boards and papers are made from 100% rag-usually cotton fibres-or purified wood pulp which has the acidic lignin and other contaminating components removed.
The terms 'conservation-quality' and 'museum-quality' are used differently in many countries, therefore, specifications should be checked when purchasing. See also Museum-quality.
conservation mounting
Conservation approved mounting methods using acid free materials that protect artwork, documents and photographic prints, and help prolong their lives. See also Conservation framing; Mounting.
conservation plan
Preparation of a strategy for the long-term care of collections. Developing a conservation plan involves identifying the conservation needs of collections, prioritising them and allocating resources to deal with them.
conservation-quality
See also Conservation grade; Museum-quality.
conservation standards
Agreed standards of care needed for the long-term conservation of collections.
conservation survey
See Collection survey.
Copysafe sleeves
Ring binder, plastic sleeves made from polypropylene with tiny bubbles on the inside to prevent photocopies from sticking to the sleeve. The word 'Copysafe' is always embossed along the ring-binder edge of the sleeve.
Corflute
A synthetic, corrugated plastic which has been used as a backing board in recent times-this is a trademark/brand name.
corner rounder
A device for rounding the corners of paper mountboard and polyester sheets. Used to remove the corner points of polyester, which is used in encapsulation, in order to avoid damage to materials during storage.
Correctional Services programs
Provision of labour by people required to do so under Community Service Orders.
corrosion
Gradual deterioration of a solid-especially a metal or alloy-due to chemical processes such as oxidation or the action of a chemical agent. Some corrosion products, like patinas, can be protective; however others, like rust, can be harmful to metals. See also Galvanic corrosion; Patina; Rust; Tarnish.
counter-disaster plan
A document which sets out what action is to be taken if the collection is threatened or damaged. It includes reporting requirements and emergency contacts for assistance, supplies and equipment. See also Disaster preparedness.
crisis management
A management style characterised by reacting to events and crises when they occur, rather than planning ahead and being proactive.
crosslinking
The formation of side bonds between different polymer strands which leads to a change in the physical properties of the material, such as loss of flexibility and colour change.
cross-reference system
Systems in which references to objects which are associated with each other are listed in the catalogue.
cultural heritage
A tradition, habit, skill, art form or institution which is passed from one generation to the next. See also Significance.
Cultural Ministers Council (CMC)
Federal and State ministers with responsibility for the arts and culture, meeting once a year and responsible for setting up the Heritage Collections Council.
cyanotype
A photographic process that produces an image with a characteristic blue colour, also called blue-print process or Prussian-blue process. It is called cyanotype because the paper is sensitised with an iron/cyanide solution. Cyanotypes were produced from the 1840s, but became popular between 1885 and 1910. They are highly sensitive to alkalis and should not be placed in contact with alkaline-buffered storage papers.
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