deaccession

American  

[dee-ak-sesh-uhn] / ˌdi ækˈsɛʃ ən /

Or de-accession

verb (used with object)

1. to sell (a work of art) from a museum's or gallery's collections, especially with a view to acquiring funds for the purchase of other works.

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verb (used without object)

1. to deaccession a work of art from a museum's or gallery's collections.

noun

1. a deaccessioned work of art.

Etymology

Origin of deaccession

First recorded in 1970–75; de- + accession

Example Sentences

I tried to deaccession her from this story, to put her out of my mind, but I couldn't.

From Salon • Oct. 19, 2022

“You don’t deaccession anything in a museum easily, nor should you. And the process is a pain. But there was no resistance or debate,” she said.

From Washington Post • Oct. 11, 2022

A museum of imaginary history, “Nights of Plague” is stocked with stuff that a more frugal curator might choose to deaccession.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2022

The BMA paused a sale of artworks that could have violated deaccession rules.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2020

Since Ms. Phillips’s departure, the Little Falls Library has updated its deaccession policy to make more explicit that proceeds will not be used for operating expenses and to spell out procedures.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2010