An object note often lists everything visible and says nothing about the parts that could not be examined. Later, that silence can be mistaken for a complete inspection. Add a brief statement of access and viewing limits while the visit is fresh.
Name the available view
Record whether you saw the object in a case, in a digital image, or through an authorised handling session. Note which sides were visible and whether scale, lighting, or reflections limited the view. These details explain the basis of your description.
Use “not examined” rather than “absent” for features you could not check. If the underside was hidden, you cannot conclude from your visit that it carried no mark. The wording should preserve that distinction.
Keep later information attributed
A catalogue may describe a feature you did not see. Include it if useful, but label it as information from the record rather than your own observation. This creates a clear path for anyone comparing your note with the object later.
Such limits need not dominate the description. Two careful sentences may be enough. They make the record more dependable by showing where direct observation ends and where further access or documentation would be needed to answer the remaining questions.