The Romang Collection 

THE ROMANG COLLECTION

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Collections Management and Institutional Governance Policy

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I. Statement of Purpose and Institutional Mission The Romang Collection is an independent archival repository dedicated to the preservation, academic research, and cataloging of East Asian antiquities. Housing approximately 1,500 historical objects, the repository specializes in Japanese and Korean material culture, with a specific curatorial focus on Edo and Momoyama period ceramics, Joseon dynasty wares, chadō dōgu (tea ceremony utensils), urushi (lacquerware),rare manuscripts, and select contemporary artisan works. The archive operates under strict academic standards to advance cross-cultural dialogue and ensure the physical survival of these cultural artifacts.

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II. Acquisition Methodology and Provenance Vetting The Romang Collection prioritizes primary-source field acquisition. Acquisitions are primarily secured through direct curatorial field research in Japan and South Korea, allowing the archive to rescue and preserve historically significant works that have not yet circulated in the secondary Western art market. Provenance and authenticity are verified internally by the Chief Curator through rigorous material analysis,stylistic dating, and the epigraphic translation of accompanying documentation, including original signed wooden boxes (tomobako), attestation inscriptions (hakogaki), and historical inventory labels (kura-fuda).

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III. Curatorial Attribution and Archival Recovery In addition to primary-source field acquisition, The Romang Collection actively engages in the identification, recovery, and re-attribution of unrecognized East Asian antiquities from private circulation and dispersed historical collections. The Chief Curator utilizes specialized material analysis, epigraphic translation, and historical comparative research to correctly identify and authenticate works that lack formal institutional documentation at the time of discovery. Upon scholarly verification by the Chief Curator, these recovered works are formally integrated into the archive, restoring their historical context and institutional record.

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IV. Archival Documentation and Epigraphic Standards All objects admitted into the repository undergo a rigorous cataloging process. The institutional standard requires the documentation of the object’s physical specifications, historical period, and material composition. Central to the archive’s methodology is the precise transcription and translation of accompanying textual ephemera. The Office of the Chief Curator serves as the final authority on the translation of kura-fuda and tomobako inscriptions, establishing the formal institutional record for each artifact.

V. Conservation and Physical Care The repository adheres to stringent international standards for the physical preservation of East Asian antiquities. Specific environmental controls are maintained to ensure the stabilization of fragile materials, particularly historical urushi lacquerware and porous ceramic bodies. The archive’s handling and storage protocols are designed to align with the scientific standards established by leading cultural property conservation societies.

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VI. Academic Access and Institutional Engagement As an independent research archive, The Romang Collection restricts physical access to ensure the security and preservation of the artifacts. Access to the collection is granted strictly for scholarly research, academic publication, and approved curatorial review by affiliated academic societies and international museum professionals.

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Ratified by the Office of the Director and Chief Curator. Gustavo Romang, M.A., Hon. Doctor of Divinity (JTS, New York)