Begin with the light
A polished surface can reflect a room, a window or the photographer. Record the lighting and viewpoint before drawing conclusions about colour or form. A single image may conceal edges or join separate surfaces visually.
Ask for the material record
A glossy appearance does not establish whether an object is steel, chrome-plated, lacquered or something else. Use a verified catalogue entry and condition information for a particular piece. Leave uncertain specifications open.
Compare carefully
Use consistent fields for material, finish, dimensions, provenance and source date. Historical linked item numbers remain unavailable where the exact catalogue record has not been recovered. We do not invent stock descriptions from a number alone.