Object Research Checklist

A structured checklist for recording labels, construction, materials, condition and provenance on vintage furniture and objects.

Record the evidence visible on a vintage object before searching for a name. The checklist produces a printable research summary.

Evidence before attribution

Build an object research record

Complete what you can. An unknown maker is a valid conclusion; an unsupported famous name is not.

Object type Where it was found Visible wording on labels or marks Materials and construction notes

Evidence checklist Maker label, stamp or branded mark photographed Full dimensions recorded in centimetres Underside, back and unfinished surfaces photographed Joinery, fasteners and hardware recorded Material described without relying only on seller wording Repairs, refinishing, odour, damage and replacement parts noted Previous owner, purchase location or paperwork recorded Compared with a documented museum, archive or catalogue example

A quiet monthly letter

One object. One building. One designer.

A concise monthly note for people who want to look more closely at twentieth-century design. No daily churn.

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midcenturyform.com

Design history, considered slowly.

A faceless editorial guide to the designers, objects, buildings and ideas that continue to shape modern life.

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Architecture & interiors
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Independent editorial site. British English.