Munsell was before my time but I think the rationale for dropping it was
that the colour looked different depending on what type of lighting it was
being viewed under.  I do not think it was embraced by all divisions.  I
think only our ethnology cataloguers used it.

Why not use it now?  Well, for one thing we are trying to make our data as
accessible to people as possible both internally and externally.  Few people
reviewing our WWW Public Access site would know what the coding means.
Also, the use of pictures in the artifact database negates the need for such
accuracy.  And as I said in my earlier post we do have other fields to be
more descriptive.

What happens if someone wants to do an esoteric exhibit on yellow artifacts.
My gosh, the variables I would have to weed through.  If we keep it simple,
then we can get all the yellow items at one shot and review other fields and
photos for further details.

I fully appreciate the need for precision and such colour matching tools are
used by our conservators.

Thanks for your imput.  Nothing is ever simple. is it?!!

Patti Davis-Perkins
> ----------
> From:         Anne Lane[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Tuesday, August 17, 1999 1:25 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: colour standards
>
> At 12:31 PM 17-08-99 -0400, you wrote:
> >Several weeks ago I put forth a query regarding colour standards.  I
> >received 1 response concerning the Munsell colour code which we have had
> to
> >discard for several reasons.
>
> I'd be interested to know why you scrapped the Munsell.  We have found it
> useful in a number of applications, although you do need to be patient and
> thorough and have a good eye for subtle colo(u)r gradations.  Aside from
> using it in cataloguing to allow monitoring for possible color change, we
> used it for matching thread colors for stabilization work on a pair of
> crazy quilts we will be exhibiting.  Sure beat taking all those shattered
> silks to the fabric store!  Sure beats having to deal with different
> persons' perceptions of where one color begins and another ends.  I
> learned
> a long time ago that my sister and I, artists both, have a very different
> idea of where the line falls between blue and green.  I also would be
> interested in hearing other people's ideas on this colorful dilemma.
> Anne T. Lane
> Curatorial Assistant
> Museum of York County
> 4621 Mount Gallant Road
> Rock Hill, SC 29732
> 803-329-2121, ext 104
> fax: 803-329-5249
> [log in to unmask]
>
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