The Detective’s DeskPia Hart
Restorer
“My frame was already dry to the touch five minutes after application.”
EASY · CASE FILE
The tacky varnish
Easy · FERN RESTORATION STUDIO
A restored frame was signed off unusually quickly. Each restorer reports a separate frame treated with the same varnish under the same conditions. The verified studio test sets the earliest time a frame can be handled as dry.
Read the case file below, or open the interactive desk to examine records, keep notes and submit your reasoning. These are the case materials, without the solution.
Your assignment
Inspect, test and record the finding. What does the verified record establish?
- The source records are verified and their stated conditions apply to every account.
- Find the account contradicted by a record. A contradiction alone does not establish wrongdoing.
People and accounts
Ravi Moon
Restorer
“My frame was dry when I checked it after twelve minutes.”
Sana Brook
Restorer
“I handled my dry frame after fifteen minutes.”
Case records
Read each record on its own terms. A claim made by a person is different from a fact established by an independent record.
DESK RECORD
The brush invoice
The studio bought two new brushes last month.
The studio bought two new brushes last month.
VERIFIED MATERIAL TEST
Twelve minutes to dry
For these frames and studio conditions, this varnish cannot be dry to the touch until at least 12 minutes after application. No drying equipment or other treatment was used.
This is a verified source record for this case. Compare its stated facts with the exact question.
PHOTOGRAPH
Three frame labels
The frames were labelled Landscape, Harbour and Garden.
The frames were labelled Landscape, Harbour and Garden.
Questions to resolve
Which accounts remain consistent with the verified facts?
Use the interactive case desk to select your finding and cite the records that support it. The answer is checked there, and your progress stays in your browser.
Build your finding
Compare the records with each account. Work out what the evidence establishes, then separate that finding from anything it does not prove.