Database
d'après documents fournis par CM
Timeline
Modélisation base de données = Hiver 2023-2024 (visite/consultation Getty = décembre 2023)
Versement des données = Printemps- été 2024
Premières visualisations disponibles pour début Septembre 2024
Présentation
First set of data will be compiled from a selection of 300 sales – The sales would have to be spread evenly across the period 1840 to 1890s so between 40-50 sales per decade.
The full set of data will be obtained in cross-referencing published sale catalogs (OCR) with the Auctioneers books (Archives de Paris)
The list of selected sales will be established from the information found in the Auctioneers ‘accounts held in the Archives de Paris, giving the titles and totals of each sale.
In regards to the objects scope I would like to keep it as broad as possible in order to reflect the diversity of the subject and the collecting practices, the evolution of taste. I would select all objects that are referenced and catalogued as of a certain period from Renaissance (15thcentury) to the 1st Empire (Napoléon I) or attributed to a workshop (could be a location), a maker. In this way the database would be built from substantial descriptions. As the more details per object the more likely it will be identified or linked with comparable works.
The database needs to be structured around the event : the auction - the source is the catalog - Each lot/object is a physical object
Searching the database : ability to search by keywords within the description of objects (shapes, colours etc.) as well as all fields listed.
The database is primarily inspired by one model
The Getty Provenance Index built mainly from annotated European sales catalogues, and mainly for the 18th century = search by keywords / artists/ sales /auctioneers
Base for the model of the Getty Provenance Index : Auctions (linked.art) (ontology) et pour les propriétés d’objet (root class) CIDOC CRM E22 Man-Made Object | CIDOC CRM (cidoc-crm.org) - ex: semantics : Physical object (E22 human made object parent ) P1 is identified by name (E33_E41_Linguistic_Appellation)
Access to the Provenance Index data set : provenance-index-csv/sales_catalogs at main · thegetty/provenance-index-csv · GitHub
Starting from these two models the database needs to be adjusted the specificity of decorative arts. The fields for the database would be (this is subject to small variations ) :
Per sale event:
date of the sale/ from - to (day/month/year)
place of the sale/ place - city - country
name of the auctioneer/
address of the auctioneer/
expert(s)/
auctioneer archive reference/ Name of sale - Archive ref
title of the catalogue/
number of pages and illustrations/
printer/
name of the seller/} name from sources – name (referenced) - indicate if deceased - or unknown
gender of the seller/
seller’s address/
seller’s occupation/
Option of other seller
Option of seller’s representative (middle-man)
Link to ID Ref
amount of the fees (percentage) /
total number of lots/
sale total/
sources/ } catalog reference : library - previous owner(s) if known
Frits Lugt number/
link : to Lugt online sales catalogs or BNF
note about the sale
Per object:
ref of catalog section/
lot number/
name of creator or workshop / } name (from catalog) - name (referenced) = possibility of 2 or more if combined object or homonyms and possibility of “unknown” = “by” - “possibly by” - after …
country of origin / = possibility of 2 or more if combined object
signature or inscription if any /
period/ } period (from catalog) – period (referenced : Renaissance 1550-1600 / L.XIV 1660-1715 etc…) = possibility of 2 or more if combined object…
date if any/ = possibility of 2 or more if combined object
materials & techniques/
dimensions if any/
object title/description /
note on description/
subject if any/
object type/ = possibility of 2 or more if combined object
object category/
reproduced or not (in catalog) /
exhibited (from catalog)/
previous ownership - provenance (from catalog)/
bibliography (from catalog)/
transaction / sold - unsold
sale order no/
hammer price/
buyer’s name/} name (from minute) - name (referenced) = possibility of more if homonyms and possibility of “unknown”
buyer’s gender/
buyer’s address/
buyer’s occupation/
link to ID Ref
Present location (if known) /museum or collection - city - country
link to museum website
note about the object
When possible I would refer AAT for vocabulary used to describe or classify objects (in type and category) – I may also be able to contribute to new terms.
The names would be harmonised/ standardised according to the Getty Index and ULAN that I could also contribute to in adding new names and support this research further for the field.
The details (nationality, gender, occupation, addresses…) about sellers and buyers will be enhanced in cross-referencing with Trade Directories such as the Bottin du Commerce and contemporary press that is now digitised and can be searched efficiently (notably on Gallica) and also in linking data with other databases : Getty Provenance Index - INHA programmes sur “les ventes d’antiques” et “collectionneurs et marchands d’art asiatique” et autres…