Marketplace language often mixes natural material, casts, repairs, restoration, and decorative assembly.
The practical rule
- “Real” may describe only part of a heavily restored object.
- “Museum quality” is marketing unless tied to measurable preparation and documentation.
- Ask for a percentage estimate of restoration and photographs under side lighting.
What to record
Preserve the original seller description, photographs, invoice, claimed locality, formation, age, dimensions, and every statement about preparation or restoration. Add your own interpretation as a dated note rather than replacing the original record.
What makes a stronger collection
A coherent collection is not necessarily the largest or most expensive. It contains specimens that can be compared, explained, and traced. Documentation turns a decorative object into a durable teaching and research asset.
Next step
Choose one specimen and improve its record today: photograph the reverse, measure it, transcribe the label, save the invoice, or document restoration boundaries.
Build a comparison set
Use listings to compare morphology, matrix, preparation, locality claims, dimensions, repairs, and seller disclosure. Similar appearance alone does not establish identity or legality.
Compare collector listings