Discoloration
Discoloration is the change in the original color of a material. Discoloration may be due to exposure of the object to chemicals, light, or the effect of age.
Related Terms
Synonyms in English
chromatic alteration, fading, yellowing, staining, darkening, bleaching, color loss
Translation
| English | discoloration |
| French | décoloration |
| Spanish | descoloramiento |
| Portuguese | descoloração |
| Italian | decolorazione |
| German | Verfärbung |
| Russian | обесцвечивание |
| Arabic | تغيير اللون |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 變色 |
Discussion
Discoloration is a term used to describe the variation in the color of a material. Terms such as fading, yellowing, staining, darkening, bleaching, and color loss are descriptive elements used to further refine the visible aspects of discoloration when assessing the physical condition of an object. Some types of materials subject to discoloration include paper, textiles, finishes, papier mâché, print media, fur, feathers, skin, leather, pigments, dyes, silk, velvet, lacquered surfaces, celluloid, and wood.
References
Bachmann, Konstanze, ed. Conservation Concerns: A guide for Collectors and Curators. Washington D. C.: Smithsonian Books, 1992.
Getty Research Institute. Art & Architecture thesaurus Online: Discoloration. 2004
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). Illustrated Glossary on Stone Deterioration Patterns. ICOMOS. 2008.
International Dunhuang Project. IDP:Conservation Resources. n.d.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO). 2013.
