The Collaborative International Dictionary
deaccession \deaccession\, de-accession \de-accession\v. t. [de- + accession. Ca. 1970.] to sell (artwork); -- used of sales of art by museums.
Note: The word appears to have been coined as a euphemism to avoid the negative connotations of the word ``sell'', particularly for works donated by benefactors. The practise is justified as a means of acquiring funds for purchase of more valuable artworks.
Wiktionary
n. The disposal of objects in this way. vb. To officially remove an object from a museum, art gallery or library so that it may be sold.
WordNet
v. sell (art works) from a collection, especially in order to raise money for the purchase of other art works; "The museum deaccessioned several important works of this painter"
Usage examples of "deaccession".
I thought that perhaps the museum was deaccessioning the painting, and it made sense to me that the Caxtons were among the few collectors with the means to acquire it legitimately.
The British Museum was thinking of deaccessioning some medieval objects.
He had been born in one of the Baltic republics, was young to be head of such an important organization -- formed to study the long-term implications for strategic policy of the deaccessioning of nuclear weapons -- and was a leading example of the "new wave" in the Soviet leadership.
He had been born in one of the Baltic republics, was young to be head of such an important organization-- formed to study the long-term implications for strategic policy of the deaccessioning of nuclear weapons--and was a leading example of the "new wave" in the Soviet leadership.