Surface characteristics are critical to one's perception of all objects, and especially works of art. Most things people see they can never touch; therefore, people are very practiced at drawing such conclusions about objects they see as their weight, temperature, texture, composition, age, past use, value, etc. From the objects'surface appearance. There is a danger in museums either to remove certain surface blemishes or to apply a protective coating on all objects which gives the objects a uniform museum look but destroys the other surface information which may be both historically significant and aesthetically pleasing. See also AATA 20-106.