In article <[log in to unmask]>, Tongariki
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
>Mr. Baron an even better thesaurus would be an illustrated one.  In your
>example of medical objects and in my experience, even with nomenclature,
>without illustrations a series of names that may or may not apply to what
>I am examining just adds to the frustration.  Does anyone know of
>ILLUSTRATED thesauri?  Many thanks if you do.

I don't know of specific examples relating to medical objects, but as a
general example Jon Ostby's series of termlists for Norwegian
ethnological material comes immediately to mind. They are of limited
value to those of us that don't speak Norwegian but they do give some
indication of what can be achieved.

As far as I know, four were produced:

Ostby, J.B. (1982) Nomenklatur for drikkestell. [Illustrated dictionary
of drinking vessels and containers.] Oslo: Norske Kunst-og
Kulturhistoriske Museer.

Ostby, J.B. (1983) Nomenklatur for spise-og serveringsbestikk.
[Illustrated dictionary of flatware.] Oslo: Norske Kunst-og
Kulturhistoriske Museer.

Ostby, J.B. (1984) Nomenklatur for melkestell. [Illustrated dictionary
of appliances for milk and butter.] Oslo: Norske Kunst-og
Kulturhistoriske Museer.

Ostby, J.B. (1985) Nomenklatur for esker, tiner og skrin. [Illustrated
draft dictionary of boxes, chests and trunks.] Oslo: Norske Kunst-og
Kulturhistoriske Museer.

They may now be out of print, the MDA Booksales service used to stock
them but I believe they are sold out. E-mail <[log in to unmask]>
to check on this. Jon gave an excellent paper about his "dictionaries"
to the MDA Conference in 1988 and this appears in the proceedings:

Roberts, D.A. (ed) (1990) Terminology for Museums. Proceedings of an
international conference ... September, 1988. Cambridge: MDA ISBN 0
905963 62 8. pp338-344.

This may still be available from the MDA.

Jon Ostby wisely uses the term "dictionaries" to describe these term
lists. They are not full thesauri, there are preferred and non-preferred
terms but no BT/NT relationships as such, although interestingly he does
link terms to an external classification (Outline of cultural materials
by Murdock, et al). I believe some related terms are given but my
inability to understand Norwegian prevents me from confirming this.

Other illustrated thesauri (or similar termlists) also exist. The ICOM
Vocabulary of basic terms for cataloguing costume includes thumbnail
sketches to clarify the form and position on the body of each group of
garments.  F.P. Badoni produced an Italian illustrated terminology
dictionary for archaeological material which was published in 1980.  All
of these are described in the 1988 MDA Conference proceedings.

It has long been a dream of mine to produce some specialised thesauri
illustrated with engravings from early trade catalogues. There is a
wealth of material there waiting to be mined. About 20 years ago I
started doing a (manual) cut and paste job on a nineteenth century
catalogue of tools but it was too big a task and I had to abandon it.
Perhaps I should dig out the file and start scanning the engravings and
preparing a computerised version. Has anyone had a go at this?

Stuart
--
Stuart Holm, Heritage Documentation Projects       Tel: +44 1603 870772
2 New Road, Reepham, Norwich NR10 4LP, UK       E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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