16.6: The Presence of Text and its Effect on the Perceived Values of Objects

How does the presence of writing on an object affect the balance of the material and conceptual values, and consequent conservation choices? The role of the text in relation to the material and function of the object has an important impact on its relative value. There are perhaps three levels at which the relationship of text and material can be considered. The first is where the function of the object is purely to provide written information, and the material feature is regarded mainly as a carrier for the text (e.g. newspaper). The second involves text which is a significant feature of the function of the object, but where the material, too, is important, e.g. the denomination and other details on a coin as well as the metal or alloy from which the coin is made (Oddy 1980: 31), or cups awarded as prizes where the dedicatory inscriptions are an important feature, but so are the material and form of the cup. Figure 2 shows two pewter tankards awarded as prizes during the 19^th century; the form and material indicate a comparatively modest status, and so do the inscriptions (one was awarded as a consolation prize in an athletics event!). The third type of relationship of text with material involves writing which indicates quality or source but does not affect the function of the object, e.g. makers’ marks on tools or ceramics, shelf marks on books. In this case the text is only one feature of the object as a whole, and normally will not affect the way the object is used, though it may impart historical information to the understanding of that object (Caple 2006: 56–59).

In practice, because of its evidential value, the presence (or assumed presence), of any form of writing will almost always take priority over other factors during preliminary investigation, and when making conservation decisions. It will be considered important to investigate the surface of any kind of object which would be expected to carry writing (e.g. a coin), to elucidate obscured lettering or to preserve text that is already visible. Figure 3 shows three superficially similar copper alloy coins excavated in the author’s garden. Although corroded, it is the visible text which identifies them as a Russian two kopek piece (1840), a South African penny (1898), and a British penny (1907). Once the coins are read it is possible to speculate that the first might have been brought back to rural Norfolk by a soldier returning after the Crimean War (1853–1856) and the second after the Boer War (1899–1902)!

The investigation may establish not just the letters or words, but how the text was written, e.g. impressed into damp clay, scratched into plaster, formed in the die for a coin, cast or engraved into metal, printed onto paper; it will help to indicate whether the intention was for the text to be long-lasting or transitory. It will contribute to understanding the extent to which the text affects the significance of the object as a whole.