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Conservation of Burmese Buddha, 19th century wooden lacquer and polychrome sculpture
Posted: May 11, 2024Conservation of a privately owned, previously restored, sculpture of Burmese Buddha, dated to the 19th century. A range of materials were treated, including carved hardwood, lacquer, paint, gilding, applique and glass decorative details. -
Tomb of Pepyankh, Sakkara, Egypt. Dated to the Old Kingdom.
Posted: May 3, 2024This collaborative conservation and excavation project, which involved many specialist professions, were part of an Egyptian expedition lead by Dr Mohamed Megahed. The treatment of the tomb paintings was started by conservator Amr Shakal in 2016. I joined the team in 2018 to continue and complete the treatment. -
Investigation and uncovering of painted coffer ceiling decoration by Sir John Soane, 1820s, the Banqueting House, Whitehall, London.
Posted: May 3, 2024The ceiling of the great hall of the Banqueting House in London was investigated by two teams of conservators and several teams of scientists as part of the campaign for the Historic Royal Palaces. The uncovering was supported by thorough collaborative historic research and polychrome scheme investigation carried out by other specialists. The uncovering informed the project about the quality of the Soane decoration, as well as materials and techniques used by his craftsmen. -
Conservation and reshaping of Persian bagpipes
Posted: April 30, 2024Persian bagpipes, or: neyanban, presented to the Perth Literary and Antiquarian Society in 1830. The conservation treatment preceded a technical analysis of the materials and methods present at the bagpipes. The bagpipes were in a poor condition – the leather bag was deflated and creased. The leather itself was dry… -
Mosaic Floor Morecambe Winter Gardens
Posted: April 11, 2024Restoring and conserving the ceramic mosaic floors in the entrance foyer at the Morecambe Winter Gardens. -
Conservation of Ancient Egyptian sculpture
Posted: March 29, 2024Polychrome wooden sculpture of an official, from Ancient Egypt, Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty. The sculpture had broken in half in the area of the legs. Additionally, the paint layer and gesso was partially loose and a large wax fill in the right hand side of the face has aged and cracks started to appear along the fill. In discussion with the client its was decided to undertake a stabilisation treatment but also to remove and replace the aged fill. -
Chair conservation and re-upholstery
Posted: March 27, 2024Conservation of the chair frame to allow for occasional use (structural repairs and repairs to tacking rail damage) to allow for re-upholstery. Traditional and modern upholstery methods were employed, preserving as much of the upholstery as possible. The chair frame was cleaned and the finish revived and re-waxed. -
Victoria & Albert Museum
Posted: March 18, 2024Conservation cleaning & repair of terracotta facades within the Madjeski Courtyard at the V&A. -
Broadwater Farm Estate
Posted: March 18, 2024Careful dismantling & conservation of contemporary glass mosaic mural Equality-Harmony -
Townend Browne Letter Volume 5, National Trust
Posted: March 2, 2024The volume contains eighteenth-century letters from the family of George Browne, who was the owner of the National Trust property, Townend, in the Lake District. The letters outline personal correspondence between a father and son, and are bound together. The binding was most likely made by George Browne himself. The aims of the project were to stabilise the letters, repair damage and reduce their vulnerability to further deterioration, loss or theft. Before they were rebound, the letters were digitised in the workshop to make them accessible online. They were also required to be robust and presentable for safe handling by invigilated researchers, display and loan. The conservation approach developed sought to preserve original binding format where possible, keeping evidence of earlier bindings and arrangements being as reversible as possible. The process was filmed by the BBC and will feature in a future National Trust programme.