A break is an edge with a history
Describe fracture, finished boundary and later loss separately before proposing when an edge formed.
Locate visible evidence, identify technical claims by source and preserve every inaccessible or uncertain surface.
Inventory the perimeter
Begin with the complete surviving perimeter. Mark finished outer edges, obvious breaks, hidden edges and areas obscured by mount or crop. A jagged line may suggest fracture, but a photograph alone rarely establishes when it occurred. Use neutral language—broken edge visible at the right side—until conservation or excavation records supply chronology.
Compare texture without dating it
Fresh-looking, weathered and filled surfaces can differ in color and roughness. Museum light, dust, focus and image processing can amplify those differences. Make views under the available light and retain original files. Do not date a break from brightness or sharpness; technical examination and documented history are required.
Keep both sides of the break
A close detail needs a wider frame showing the break’s position on the object. If separated fragments are displayed nearby, record each independently before considering a join. Similar material and matching scale are useful questions, not proof. Publish any proposed relationship as a labeled comparison rather than a completed object.
Distinguish loss from design
A recessed area, drilled socket or cut edge may be original design, an ancient alteration, damage or modern intervention. Search the exact inventory record and technical literature. Avoid completing the form from familiarity with similar objects. Visible absence should remain absence until an accountable source supports reconstruction.
Use light as a test, not proof
Changing angle can reveal whether a line has depth, but shadow can make a shallow surface mark look like a crack. Compare at least two viewpoints. Never increase clarity until compression halos become false fracture branches. Record exposure and contrast edits beside the master.
Map uncertainty explicitly
Use three categories in an annotated derivative: observed edge, source-supported interpretation and unresolved area. Keep the unmarked image beside it. This makes the map corrigible and prevents one colored line from presenting all observations at the same confidence.
Check the display boundary
Glass, backing and mount can hide the continuation of a break. State which surface cannot be seen and why. Do not lean over barriers or place equipment against a case. A limitation note is part of the condition record, not a failure to obtain a complete picture.
Write a conservative caption
Identify the object only through a responsible record, then state visible break location, viewpoint, date and inaccessible surfaces. Avoid terms such as recent, repaired or unstable unless documentation supports them. The visitor photograph is an observation record, not a conservation diagnosis.
Create a coordinate system
Divide the whole object into stable zones such as base, lower body, torso, side and top. Give each observed edge a location code that persists across images. Coordinates keep later notes tied to the same feature even when crop, viewpoint or display changes.
Compare without forcing a match
Place potential matching edges beside one another at documented scale and orientation. Do not stretch, mirror or rotate without labeling the transformation. Preserve gaps and mismatches. A visual parallel can support a research question, but only measurements and responsible study can establish a join.
Protect the master record
Keep original captures read-only and generate annotated copies separately. Store crop, rotation, contrast and line overlays in a version log. When a classification changes, update the map while preserving the photograph and earlier annotation that explain the editorial history.
Review language for hidden diagnosis
Search captions for words such as fresh, ancient, repaired, unstable and deliberate. Each requires evidence beyond appearance. Replace unsupported terms with visible description and a source note. This language audit is as important as checking pixels because confident verbs can overstate an otherwise careful image.
This editorial method is not diagnosis, monitoring, authentication or treatment advice. Raise immediate concerns with museum staff and use qualified professional records.