Research staging site · provisional research data, not peer-reviewed or published

Research methodology

How records are sourced, checked and classified, and the terms used across the collection.
TermCategoryDefinitionRecords
AlbarelloFormCylindrical storage jar with a waisted body, used for apothecary goods, associated with tin-glazed wares of the Islamic world and Renaissance Italy. –
BCE / CEMethodBefore Common Era and Common Era, used in place of BC and AD. –
c.MethodCirca, about. Marks an approximate date. –
DraftMethodA record entered but not yet checked against its source. –
Effigy vesselFormVessel whose whole body is modelled as an animal, human or other figure. –
EwerFormPouring vessel with a spout and a handle, often with a tall neck. –
Form familyMethodA grouping of museum type labels by overall form and use, proposed by Forms Through Time. –
Holding institutionMethodThe museum or collection that holds the object and publishes its catalogue record. –
HydriaFormAncient Greek water jar with three handles: two horizontal for lifting and one vertical for pouring. –
Indexed dateMethodStart and end years read from the catalogue date so the record can be filtered by period. –
KendiFormSpouted drinking and pouring vessel without a handle, filled through the neck and poured from the spout; widespread across South and Southeast Asia. –
KylixFormAncient Greek shallow drinking cup with two horizontal handles, usually raised on a stem and foot. –
LoutrophorosFormTall ancient Greek vessel with an elongated neck and two handles, associated with ritual water for weddings and funerals. –
Moon jarFormKorean white porcelain jar of the Joseon period with a full, rounded body, typically thrown in two halves and joined. –
Museum type labelMethodThe object type given in the holding institution’s catalogue. Records keep it unchanged. –
OinochoeFormAncient Greek wine jug with a single handle, often with a trefoil mouth. –
OlpeFormAncient Greek jug with a continuous profile and round mouth; a type of oinochoe. –
PotsherdFormBroken fragment of a ceramic vessel. –
ProfileMakingThe outline of a vessel seen from the side, from foot to rim. Profiles are the basis of the drawings and planned rib templates. –
RhytonFormDrinking or pouring vessel, often horn-shaped or ending in an animal head, with an opening at the lower end. –
Source checkedMethodA record whose catalogue details have been checked against the holding institution’s entry. –
Stirrup spout vesselFormAndean vessel with a hollow stirrup-shaped handle that joins into a single spout, made by Moche, Chimú and other cultures. –
Throwing ribMakingA flat tool held against the clay on the wheel to shape and smooth the profile. –
Transport jarFormJar made to carry and store goods such as oil, wine or grain in trade. –

Form terms follow common museum usage; each record keeps its holding institution’s label.