Hi Laura, 

 

I can definitely give you some examples, especially as our first major
cataloging project after getting TMS was costume, and then we went right
into ceramics. 

This is the brief paragraph from of our original guidelines: 

 

Object Counting- Pretty much everything is going to be counted as multiple
objects:

Shoes, stockings, garters, gloves, etc: 2 objects

Tea Sets, uniforms- any multi-part item: Count each whole piece of the set
as a separate object: a creamer, teapot, tray and sugar bowl will total 4
objects; a dress, a matching veil and a matching shawl will total 3 objects.


Component parts of individual pieces do NOT get counted as separate objects
as long as they are still together with the larger piece, making up one
whole: the lid to the teapot is NOT a separate object as long as the teapot
is still with it; the matching belt, or collar, etc of a dress is NOT
counted as a separate object as long as we still have the dress. 

 

 

So, a tea set of a teapot with lid, sugar bowl with lid, and 10 cups, would
make a 12 count. The teapot would have two components created of teapot, and
lid. 

A pair vases would be 2 objects; even though they go together, they don't
have to be. If it is one record for the set, we would create components. 

 

Pair of shoes, gloves, earrings are two objects. Usually components are
created for the shoes and gloves noting if the left or the right is .a or .b


Suits, even if they would never be exhibited apart, would have the
individual pieces counted, as would dresses that are made up of a bodice and
skirt. Components are created for all the individual pieces. 

 

For albums, we count the album as one object. We do assign further
sub-points to the photos (or whatever) inside, to be able to track them for
media records, so the object number in the system might look like
1999.100.0.1-.99. We do not currently create components for the items inside
the albums. 

For photos that were once bound in an album, but we took them apart, are
storing them apart, and cataloging them apart, even if we assigned that
album number format to them originally, we would now count them as 1 object
each since that one physical album no longer exists. 

We don't currently have any Diptychs or Triptychs, so no help for you there.


 

Hope that helps! Happy TMS-ing!

 

Diane. 

 

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Diane Lee | Collections Manager

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From: The Museum System (TMS) Users [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Wenzel, Laura
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 11:27 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Object Count field style guide

 

Dear colleagues:

 

We have just recently completed a conversion from Argus to TMS and I am so
pleased to finally be on the other side!

 

The object count field has been made a priority clean up project and I'm
wondering if anyone might share their style guidelines for this field?
Obviously, it gets tricky with multiples and whole/parts and it would be
extremely helpful to see how others have handled this.

 

Troublesome types for object count:

*	Sets: 

*	Tea sets with cups, saucers, teapots, lids, spoons
*	Pairs of figures or vases

*	Fashion: 

*	Pairs of shoes, gloves, earrings
*	Suits with multiple parts or ensembles that would never be exhibited
apart

*	Albums

*	Prints that are bound in an album
*	Prints that were bound in an album but have been since separated

*	Diptychs, Triptychs, etc.

 

The user shared resources on the website have been very useful, but I would
love to get a few more examples. Thanks in advance!

 

Best,

Laura

 



 

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