Conservation and Restoration of Clear Coatings on Furniture and ...

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Research is a core activity <strong>of</strong> the Victoria <strong>and</strong> Albert Museum <strong>and</strong> is carried out in all its departments. Some
research concerns the identification <strong>and</strong> interpretation <strong>of</strong> individual objects. Other studies contribute to systematic
research. This develops the public underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> the art <strong>and</strong> artefacts <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong> the great cultures <strong>of</strong> the world.
Furniture conservators have developed specialisms within their discipline, such as modern furniture, ecclesiastical
objects, architectural woodwork <strong>and</strong> models, objects from South Asia, veneered surfaces <strong>and</strong> decorative surfaces,
including gilding <strong>and</strong> oriental lacquer.
Meeting with Senior Furniture Conservator Shayne Rivers
SHAYNE RIVERS’ roles In practical conservation, include condition assessment, cleaning <strong>and</strong> consolidation to
stabilise pieces from the Victoria <strong>and</strong> Albert Museum's collection for photography, transport <strong>and</strong> display. She also is
responsible for preventive conservation - for example, checking for insect infestation - <strong>and</strong> emergency response
planning. Her research <strong>and</strong> many publications look into conservation treatments <strong>and</strong> ethics. Shayne has recently coauthored
the most up to date <strong>and</strong> comprehensive text manual for pr<strong>of</strong>essional furniture conservators.
Visit to Science section with 20th Century materials polymer scientist, Brenda Keneghan.
The Science section aims to contribute to the knowledge <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> museum objects <strong>and</strong> their
environment. It works in collaboration with the <strong>Conservation</strong> department, other museum staff <strong>and</strong> fellow
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals <strong>and</strong> concentrates on collection-centred work, meeting clearly agreed goals <strong>and</strong> balancing education,
research <strong>and</strong> consultancy. The skills within the multi-disciplinary team include: chemistry, physics, materials
science, conservation science, polymer science <strong>and</strong> microscopy. On-going museum initiatives that fall within the
sphere include: environmental monitoring <strong>and</strong> advice; lighting <strong>and</strong> solar control policies <strong>and</strong> implementation; dust
monitoring; technical examination <strong>of</strong> artefact constituents <strong>and</strong> response to environments; paint <strong>and</strong> pigment
analysis; <strong>and</strong> display cases.
is currently in his seventh year as President <strong>of</strong> the Chicago Area <strong>Conservation</strong> Group (CACG) <strong>and</strong> serves on
the Board <strong>of</strong> Directors for the AIC as Director <strong>of</strong> Communications. The AIC is the national organization
representing conservation p
c) Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, High Wycombe, UK
The Faculty <strong>of</strong> Design <strong>of</strong>fer undergraduate <strong>and</strong> postgraduate studies in furniture conservation. Buckinghamshire
Chilterns University College (BCUC) is one <strong>of</strong> nine specialised university run courses in the UK. Students have the
option to continue their studies to Mphil Or PhD level.
The study is a workshop/studio based experience with supporting studies <strong>of</strong> material science, history <strong>of</strong> furniture <strong>and</strong>
its treatment. Students negotiate the particular areas or techniques they wish to research from the wide range <strong>of</strong>
historic furniture, including Twentieth Century furniture, for both their project work <strong>and</strong> thesis. The course includes
studies in <strong>Conservation</strong>, Ethics, Furniture History, <strong>Restoration</strong> Theory, Material Science <strong>and</strong> Practice. The final
period <strong>of</strong> the course sees the integration <strong>of</strong> theoretical <strong>and</strong> practical studies exhibited by the dissertation <strong>and</strong> the
completed restored or conserved pieces.