CIDOC Guidelines for Museum Object Information: Object Title Information Group

This page is part of the International Guidelines for Museum Object Information: The CIDOC Information Categories: a description of the Information Categories that can be used when developing records about the objects in museum collections. For an outline of the Information Groups and Categories in the Guidelines, turn to the introductory list.

Object Title Information Group

Purpose:

Object title information supports Security, Access, and an Historic archive. Often the primary identification of fine art and other high value objects, the Object title is essential for describing such collections. It is also a primary point of access to object information for all types of users.

Information categories:

Title
Title type
Title translation

Examples:

Title: Las Meninas
Title type: artist's title
Title translation: The Maids in Waiting

Title: The Maids of Honor
Title type: popular title

Title: Madonna and child
Title type: iconographic title

Notes:

• This Information Group can be repeated for as many titles as required. An object can have more than one title, and a title can be shared by several objects.

Title

Definition:

The name assigned to an object or group of objects by the artist/creator or collector at the time of origin or subsequent titles either specifically assigned or generally understood to refer to the object.

Examples:

Madonna and Child
Untitled

Notes:

• Use "Untitled" only if this has been assigned as a Title.
• Record Titles using the same punctuation and capitalization as the source used.
• When describing a group of objects with a collection name, record this name as one of the Titles.

Move to beginning of Title

Title type

Definition:

The nature of the Title recorded.

Examples:

collection
artist's
popular
series
trade

Notes:

• It is recommended that controlled terms are used for this Information Category. Refer to the "Content and terminology control" section in the Introduction for further guidance on sources of controlled terminology.

Move to beginning of Title

Title translation

Definition:

A translation of the Title recorded.

Examples:

Le Grand Lit de Ware

Move to beginning of Title

Move to outline of the Information Groups and Categories or the next section of the Guidelines, Part and component

file: guidetit.htm; author: CIDOC; updated June 1995