Condition Terminology

If your work shows any possible signs of any defects described below, please take detailed photos of how they appear on your artwork. Even if you’re uncertain, having clear images on file of suspected issues will help us confirm if anything should be noted in the listing’s condition report. 

Abrasion

Visible result of wearing, grinding, or scratching of a surface due to friction.

Accretions

Surface deposits of foreign material, such as dried liquid residue, foodstuff, or fly specks.

Bloom

In painting, when moisture penetrates a varnished surface, causing cloudy areas to appear.

Cockling

In prints, photos, and works on paper, a broad system of wrinkles that don’t crease the surface.

Craquelure

In painting, fine networks of very thin cracks.

Crawling

In ceramics, bare clay patches where the glaze did not adhere when fired.

Crazing

In ceramics, a fine network of lines or cracks in the glaze, like craquelure in a painting.

Creases

In prints, photos, and works on paper, a line or ridge on the surface created when paper has been folded or bent, without breaking or tearing.

Ding

In prints, photos, and works on paper, a small loss to the surface that does not go all the way through. Usually round in shape.

Efflorescence

In ceramics, whitish or brown residue.

Foxing

In prints, photos, and works on paper, reddish-brown mold spots.

Handling

Fingerprints, grease marks, or gentle creases to margins/edges.

Inclusions

In ceramics, grit stuck in the clay when it was still wet.

Indentations

Any chip, dent, gouge, tear, abrasion, or loss occurring from force.

In painting

In painting, restoration of paint to replace pigment loss or disguise craquelure.

Light staining

In prints, photos, and works on paper, darkening/browning of the sheet and loss of brilliance in the pigments.

Mat burn

In prints, photos, and works on paper, darkening/browning of the sheet due to acidic matting materials.

Nick

In prints, photos, and works on paper, a minor cut or tear at the edge of the sheet or board.

Pitting

In sculpture, small cavities, pinpoints, or depressions caused by weathering, erosion, and other corrosive processes.

Pressure folds

In prints, when rolled up for a long time, the end of the paper margin may become visible through the whole roll.

Recto

The front of a canvas or sheet of paper.

Rippling

In prints, photos, and works on paper, disruptions, ridges, or buckling of paper, often due to mounting.

Skinning

Excessive cleaning. Occurs when a piece has experienced exorbitant intervention from a restorer or conservationist, removing a portion of the original media.

Silver-mirroring

In photos, bluish traces in darker areas. Often seen in older prints.

Surface soiling

Accumulation of dirt, dust, or other materials on the surface, such as smoke.

Surface spalling

In ceramics, a defect in repeatedly fired clay materials where outer layers shrink and peel away.

Toning

In photos, the darkening or aging of paper over time, often from exposure to humidity and pollutants in the atmosphere.

Trimmed margins

In prints, when the margins have been reduced. Typically occurs during framing.

Verso

The back of a canvas or sheet of paper.

Water damage / Warping

In prints, photos, and works on paper, damage caused by contact with water or humidity, resulting in staining, warping, or loosening of material.