Word: Deaccession
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To deaccession means to sell or remove an item, especially artworks or collectibles, from a collection or a museum. This is often done to raise money to buy new pieces or for other financial reasons.
Usage Instructions: - Use "deaccession" when talking about museums, galleries, or any collection where items are being sold or removed. It emphasizes that the item is taken out of a collection for specific reasons, often financial.
Example Sentence: - The museum decided to deaccession several important works of this painter to fund new acquisitions.
Advanced Usage: - In the art world, deaccessioning can sometimes be controversial because collectors and the public may have strong feelings about the sale of significant artworks.
Word Variants: - Deaccessioning (noun): The process of deaccessioning items from a collection. - Example: The deaccessioning of the painting sparked a debate among art historians. - Deaccessioned (adjective): Describing an item that has been removed from a collection. - Example: The deaccessioned sculptures are now part of a private collection.
Different Meanings: - While "deaccession" primarily refers to the selling of artworks, it can also be used in broader contexts to mean removing items from any collection or inventory.
Synonyms: - Sell off - Liquidate (in a broader financial context) - Remove (in a general sense)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "deaccession," but you can use phrases like "let go of" or "clear out" in a more informal context when talking about removing items from a collection.