Revitalising a Collection: Cataloguing the Ehrenberg Bequest

Carmen Cooper writes about her recent internship working on the Ehrenberg Bequest

This summer, I had the unique opportunity to intern at the ICS with the Ehrenberg collection, a series of Greek artefacts that Victor Ehrenberg donated to the Institute of Classical Studies with the aim of being used for teaching. My primary task was to catalogue and enhance the documentation of the bequest. The objective was to organise existing information, expand our understanding of the items, and make the collection more accessible and findable.

Initial Impressions

My first introduction to the existing catalogue was during the photogrammetry summer school before the internship began, which utilised items from the Ehrenberg bequest. This revealed a significant challenge, being that the existing spreadsheet offered little guidance on the location of items, merely indicating whether they were in storage or on display. There was also very little detail provided on most objects, making them difficult to identify (Figure 1). The lack of an organised system became evident as I attempted to retrieve items from boxes. Many objects were unlabelled and wrapped in tissue paper, and while some groups of objects were kept together (Figure 2), there was no coherent organisational system.

Figure 1 showing how objects 38-41 were catalogued in the original spreadsheet

The original catalogue created by Ehrenberg served as a reference point, but its vague descriptions and limited drawings highlighted the need for a comprehensive overhaul. It was clear that a thorough and systematic examination of the collection was necessary to begin to be able to work with it.

Figure 2 showing how group 24 was originally stored

Organising the Collection

To address these issues, I began by systematically going through each of the smaller boxes, noting the items being kept in them, their descriptions, labelling status, and packaging details. This initial inventory process took a full day and revealed some discrepancies, including missing items (which were later found) and unlabelled (therefore unidentifiable) fragments. Once again, the original Ehrenberg catalogue, though incomplete, provided a good foundation for this and I worked through the catalogue, using it as a point of reference, to go through the boxes and note down where everything was.

A new spreadsheet was created, building upon the older one, but adding columns for the original descriptions and images from the Ehrenberg catalogue so that it was clear where the information was coming from, as well as for information that I generated such as object descriptions, comparanda, and bibliographic references. Each object was photographed, and a more detailed description was created for all of the items, even the smallest fragments (Figure 3). This required research into specific terminology used for pottery, such as ‘slip’ and ‘fabric’, as well as the names for particular decorative motifs. Having come from a conservation background, this was a steep learning curve as the historical eras and their associated artistic styles were not something that I was familiar with.

Figure 3 showing objects 28-41 in the new catalogue

Improved Storage and Accessibility

The next phase involved repackaging the items into proper storage boxes (Figure 4). This step was essential for the conservation of the objects, ensuring that they were kept in stable conditions and appropriately sized spaces where they are not at risk of flying off or into one another. Each box was labelled with its contents, and this information was recorded in the new catalogue, making it easy to locate any item.

Proper storage is crucial for the preservation of historical artifacts, especially to make the environment acid-free and separate reactive materials, such as metals. However, the greatest danger, it seems, to this collection has been simple misplacement. As such, the new storage system not only protects the items from potential damage but also prevents such mistakes from occurring, thereby preserving their historical significance as the provenance remains known.

Figure 4 showing group 22 in the new storage system

The Importance of Proper Documentation

This experience has underscored the critical importance of proper documentation. Well-documented collections are less likely to become confused or misplaced and are more accessible and usable. By providing more detailed information on each object, the Ehrenberg collection can now serve as a robust reference for students, educators, and researchers, ensuring Ehrenberg’s vision for the bequest to be used for teaching is fulfilled.

Proper documentation also plays a crucial role in the preservation of historical artifacts. By thoroughly documenting each item, we create a permanent record of its condition, provenance, and significance. Not only this, but the information about the object’s storage, condition, uses as well as breakage and conservation adds to the context of these objects and their individual histories.

Reflections on the Experience

In conclusion, my work with the Ehrenberg bequest this summer was a great experience and getting to know the collection in detail really showed how expansive the collection is and how important it is as a teaching resource. it was also invaluable in highlighting just how important it is for collections to be properly documented and catalogued, and all that goes into that process. It has been a privilege to contribute to the enhancement of the Ehrenberg collection and to help ensure that it remains a valuable resource for the ICS.