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

During the lengthy 2020 pandemic closure, the cash-strapped museum made the controversial decision to deaccession and then sell a prized 1974 Helen Frankenthaler painting, which brought $4.7 million at auction.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

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

From Salon • Oct. 19, 2022

The gallery is free; it does not deaccession work; and it would keep her collection together.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2022

The board of the National Gallery of Art voted to deaccession its bronze fowl in May 2020 and is still working to complete the process.

From Washington Post • May 11, 2022

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