Case study two - step 6:
Consider comparative examples
Consider comparative examples of similar objects. Check to see if AMOL lists other similar or related objects. Check reference books and talk with colleagues and other museums with related collections. Judge whether the item is common or rare, in good condition or intact, and if it is well-provenancd and documented by comparison to similar items in other museums.
Cabbage tree hat example:
There are about ten cabbage tree hats in museum and library collections in Australia. Perhaps half are linked to specific owners, but this example is the best-provenanced known at present, with specific and contextual history from the region. Comparison also highlights the quality of the straw plaiting in this example. Other examples show the same type of band around the crown and various shapes, from this style to boater types.