Virtual objects are a flexible tools for managing records that do not seem to comply with standard cataloging practices. This presentation will share some practical techniques used at the Walters Art Museum and the Musical Instrument Museum to manage different types of virtual records, including: abstract objects, groups of objects, and objects not yet acquired by the institution. This was presented at Collective Imagination, 3-4 June 2009.

1. THE REST OF THE COLLECTION
Using virtual objects to manage abstract
objects, groupings, & pre-accessions
Chad Petrovay
Musical Instrument Museum

2. PHYSICAL TO IMMATERIAL ASSETS
 Artefacts that were once – but are no longer –
within the purview of the institution
 “Returned to Owner”
 Deaccessions

3. PHYSICAL TO IMMATERIAL ASSETS

4. PHYSICAL TO IMMATERIAL ASSETS

5. PHYSICAL TO IMMATERIAL ASSETS

6. PHYSICAL TO IMMATERIAL ASSETS

7. IMMATERIAL TO PHYSICAL ASSETS
 Artefacts that are not – but will someday be –
within the purview of the institution
 Exhibition Planning Records
 “Wishlisted”

8. IMMATERIAL TO PHYSICAL ASSETS

9. IMMATERIAL TO PHYSICAL ASSETS

10. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT
 A record that assists in the management of
multiple artefacts within the institution.
 Compound Objects
 Parent to Children Pointers
 Legacy “Group” Records

11. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

12. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

13. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

14. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

15. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

16. PHYSICAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

17. PHYSICAL ASSET SURROGATES
 A record that combines artefacts from pairs or
sets into a single record for presentation.
 For web driven content

18. ANONYMOUS (EGYPTIAN), GROUP OF 16 AMULETS STRUNG AS A NECKLACE, CA. 600-500 BC (LATE PERIOD).
WALTERS ART MUSEUM, BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES.

19. PHYSICAL ASSET SURROGATES

20. PHYSICAL ASSET SURROGATES

21. PHYSICAL ASSET SURROGATES

22. IMMATERIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT
 A record that assists in the management of
conceptual artefacts that lack physical substance.
 Installation Art
MARTIN CREED, WORK NO. 227, 2000

23. GWYN HANSSEN PIGOTT, TRAIL WITH PALE BOWLS, 2006.
FREER GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES.
Bowl
F1962.33
Tomb model
F1910.14
Shiwan ware
F1896.35a-b
Rakka ware
F1910.26
Tomb jar
F1902.202
Cizhou ware
F1914.33
Cizhou ware
F1917.204
Bowl
F1899.42
Cizhou ware
F1911.368
Punch’ong ware
F1996.20

24. IMMATERIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

25. IMMATERIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

26. SUMMARY
 Active vs. Archival Records
 Searchability
 Exhibition Planning
 Wishlists
 Create Groupings
 Management
 Compound Objects
 Web Display
 Intangible Heritage
 Legacy Activity Records

27. SPECIAL THANKS
Musical Instrument Museum
Bill DeWalt
Sharon Aponte Misdea
Walters Art Museum
Joan Elisabeth Reid
Kate Siplon
Jennifer Harr
Erin Allen
Smithsonian: Freer Gallery of Art
Jeffrey Smith

28. QUESTION & ANSWER
chad.petrovay@themim.org
http://petrovay.com/tmsblog