Pattern can be described before it is interpreted. Repetition, symmetry, incised line, contrast and placement are observable. A symbolic meaning requires an object-specific source, documented community knowledge or cited scholarship.
Describe first
Record where a motif appears, how it repeats and which materials form it. Neutral description makes later interpretation auditable.
Test the source
Ask whether an interpretation comes from the maker, a community knowledge holder, a museum catalogue, an academic study or an uncited online caption. These sources do not carry equal authority.
Leave uncertainty visible
“Meaning not established in the cited record” is a useful conclusion. It protects readers and objects from a confident but invented story.
Sources
Links lead to the publisher responsible for the underlying record or guidance. Accessed 30 August 2026.
- Object ID documentation standard — International Council of Museums
- Code of Ethics for Museums — International Council of Museums