General Condition Standards

AOC has defined condition standards based on principles and guidance used by members of the American Institute for Conservation and those of Heritage Preservation. AOC performs periodic condition surveys to ensure heritage assets are documented and preserved for future generations. Assets must be monitored because they are located in working offices and public spaces rather than in a museum setting, so they can be damaged by touching, impact and surface deposits. Outdoor sculptures and fixtures are exposed to weather and pollutants. Once these objects are conserved, regular follow-up inspections and periodic maintenance treatments are essential for their preservation. The table below summarizes the condition survey rating scales used by AOC for its heritage assets.

AOC Heritage Assets

In the following tables, footnotes explain changes in condition or inventory count.

1. AOC Capitol Building

The U.S. Capitol is an important example of 19th century neoclassical architecture. While a working building, the U.S. Capitol may also be considered a museum of American art and history with millions of visitors each year.

Table: AOC HERITAGE ASSETS CONDITION RATING SCALES,  See Full Report, Page 132

1.1. Fine Art

This collection includes principally unique works of art by known artists that are not permanently attached to or designed for the structure (i.e., collectible). They are separated into (a) works that are under the jurisdiction of the Joint Committee on the Library and cared for by AOC and (b) those that were originally accepted by the Joint Committee on the Library and are joint in subject matter or acquisition (these are counted in AOC’s inventory as possibly joint). The possibly joint assets are located in the Senate and House wings of the U.S. Capitol and, in many cases, are considered part of the Senate or House collections and are cared for by the Senate and House curators.

1.1.1. Interior Sculpture

This collection is comprised primarily of the bronze and marble statues in the National Statuary Hall collection. This collection (comprised of 100 statues—two from each state) was established in 1864 and completed in