We have just finished a two-year project renovating our lovely country house. Much of this work involved bringing the old part of the house back to life. For this we extensively used Jane Foley and her team. Work included removing paint layers from the cornicing, and where there losses, remaking it… removal of paint and old varnish from shutters treating and re-hanging. Our front door and lobby were brought back to life by Jane and her team. The work has been of the highest standard. These beautiful period pieces that had lost some of their sheen look utterly amazing now. Not only is her work superb but also as important, it is a delight to have her and her team working in our home; they are always enthusiastic, extremely focused and clear about the work they are doing. Thank you!

Edward O'Brien
6 Apr 2020, 09:22

Stockport Museums have been working with Foley Conservation for many years now, this company is our first port of call for most of our conservation requirements. Jane Foley and her team of expert associates are a dream to work with; professional, knowledgeable, methodical, with a wide skillset and therefore able to work with multiple materials. Jane Foley is extremely trustworthy, communicative about her approach and flexible in her delivery. Foley Conservation has worked on multiple objects for Stockport Museums including; the conservation and restoration of a collection of Charles Faulkner Armitage metal work interiors, a ceramic light fitting, a suit of armour and earlier this year they restored a 17th century Italianate cabinet. Jane Foley has also undertaken a number of conservation reports for future work. When we engage Foley Conservation, we know that the work will be executed to the highest standard. We would not hesitate to recommend the services of Jane Foley, in fact we are looking forward to welcoming her and her team back to Bramall Hall for another project as soon as social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Linn Robinson, Museum Officer
Stockport Museums (Bramall Hall)

In addition to long standing conservation services and support for our collection care in general,  Jane Foley responded to our efforts to assess the future for our collection and pursuit of conservation grants in the development of a proposal for an holistic survey of the entire collection and overall conservation plan for my institution. She included plans for condition assessment, of our object care practices and storage conditions. If this survey were to be implemented, it would enable conclusions about where deficiencies lie in our exhibition and storage practices and environment. The proposal was extremely clear and thorough in laying out how the data would be collected and evaluated, so that recommendations could be made for all aspects our collection management program. Although at present we are not able to prioritise a collection survey, should that change Jane’s proposal will help us reconfigure our approach to a study of the collection by providing a more targeted approach that would address a percentage of our collection on an annual basis, with the goal of directing more grant funding towards the treatment of specific objects.
Name and address available on application

I have had the privilege of working with Jane Foley over the last 20 plus years engaged in various conservation projects from oversized sculptures; underpass ceramic tile art installations and technology artifacts such as motor car engines and the one-of-a-kind World War 2 German Submarine U-505.

Ms. Foley is a pleasure to work with as she is organized and a problem solver along with being able to effectively communicate with her clients on chosen techniques and recommended treatments. It is an imperative that a partner must be willing and able to be flexible in the museum world. Ms. Foley has time and time again, demonstrated her commitment to both the objects upon which she is working and with her colleagues. She is a true conservation professional with whom I chose to work frequently.

To any company or cultural institution who is considering engaging Ms. Foley in conservation work, I highly recommend that there are none better than she.

Please feel free to contact me should you have any specific questions - Margaret.schlesinger@msichicago.org

Margaret Schlesinger