This document summarizes the work of the German LWL-Museumsamt für Westfalen on developing comprehensive terminologies for classifying museum objects. It discusses their work on developing a standardized classification system called the German file of generic terms (Oberbegriffsdatei OBG) to describe furniture, headdresses, and tools. The OBG aims to bring conceptual clarity to object terminology through standardized linguistic terms and classifications, and has grown to include around 4,000 descriptors across different categories organized in a hierarchical structure. Recent projects have focused on developing typologies for furniture, headdresses, and tools to add more detailed terms and definitions to the system.

1. Furniture, Headdresses, Tools –
Insights into Comprehensive Museological Work on Object
Terminology
Gitta Böth, LWL-Freilichtmuseum Hagen, Germany
Manfred Hartmann, LWL-Museumsamt für Westfalen, Münster,
Germany
CIDOC Annual Conference 2014
Access and Understanding – Networking in the Digital Era
Dresden, 6th – 11th September 2014
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Wussegel
1. Preliminary notes
2. The German file of generic terms (Oberbegriffsdatei OBG)
3. Last projects: Furniture and Headdresses
4. New project: Tools

2. Preliminary Notes
• Work on object terminology is basic work.
• We bring forward the clear conceptualization of museum
objects by linguistic terms and describe their contents
• Terminological control ensures communication.
• It is not easy to bring words and objects together
considering different scientific and regional origins.
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3. OBG
• The file of generic terms was developed
by users of the object documentation software HiDA.
• First product was the “generic terms list”: a hierarchy
of up to seven levels.
• After a general revision the OBG file has about 4.000 descriptors.
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4. OBG
• Descriptors and systematical classification
are complemented by definitions and illustrations.
• The classification refers to the form or shape of the objects.
• The data acquisition is web-based (xTree).
• The vocabulary can be edited by any internet-enabled workstation.
• Digital and analog exist in parallel.
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5. . Möbel
.. Sitzmöbel
... Chaiselongue
Die Chaiselongue ist ein aus dem Sessel
entwickeltes Möbel, das durch die
Verlängerung der Sitzflache eine halb
sitzende, halb liegende Körperhaltung
ermöglicht.
BF Lit de jour
BF Veilleuse
Synonyms
Descriptor
Description
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6. . Furniture
.. Seating Furniture
... Chaise longue
The Chaise longue is a piece of furniture
which is developed from the armchair. Its
seat is long enough to enable a half sitting nd
a half lying posture.
BF Lit de jour
BF Veilleuse
Synonyms
Descriptor
Description
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8. Intense scientific encounters create a special culture of
discussion. Meetings are not always harmonious, but they
always productive…
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9. If you accept burkas, you can‘t Such a die-hard!
be against bonnets!
He only argues because
his wife weares traditional
The traditional ceremonial bonnets!
Munich bonnet must
be included!
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10. …. The „War of the Bonnets“ ended with the „Bonnet Agreement
of Chemnitz“:
The OBG group decided to include some basic types of
Bonnets unter the generic term „Trachtenhaube“ as selected
examples of hoods belonging to traditional and occupational
costumes.
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11. Our new project: The typology of tools
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12. The section in the OBG is headed “tool, device”.
105 terms are subordinated
starting with “Abdreheisen” (trimming/turning tool) and
ending with “Zubehör” (accessories).
41 of these have subdivisions which are further broken
down to some extent.
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:
Taken from:
Reitz-Töller, Maria-Luise: Die
Putzmacherin. Ein weibliches
Handwerk. Mainz, 1998, p. 53
Showing sewing-machines from a
milliner

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Taken from:
Siuts, Hinrich: Bäuerliche und hand-werkliche
Arbeitsgeräte in Westfalen.
Die alten Geräte der Landwirtschaft
und des Landhandwerks 1890 – 1930.
3rd ed. Münster, 2002, p. 224
Showing plate 125: pliers such as
nipper and endcutting pliers, pig-nose
pliers, flat-nose pliers etc.

15. Thank your for your attention!
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