Conservation

A key part of the work we do with the collections at The Herbert is to ensure that they are preserved for future generations. The team responsible for this work is the Conservation team. The main duties that this involves are:

• Inspect and treat new items so they do not deteriorate, or contaminate other items in the collection
• Conserve damaged/worn objects using techniques and materials suitable to the object and its intended use
• Prepare objects for display
• Package and protect objects
• Check the environment is suitable (temperature, humidity, pest free)
• Give advice to individuals and institutions

Who we are

Jane Pudsey is the Senior Conservator. She manages the work of the team and deals with broader preservation issues such as storage conditions and Emergency Response Planning. She is also responsible for conservation of material in the Archives.

Judi Browes is the Conservator (Works of Art on Paper). She is responsible for the examination, preservation, restoration and recording of treatments for works of art on paper. She prepares works on paper for exhibition, with appropriate mounts and frames.

Martin Grahn is the Conservator (Objects). He assesses and stabilises incoming collections, undertakes conservation work on wood, metals, ceramic, stone and composite objects, and monitors environment conditions.

Jill Irving is the Conservator (Easel Paintings). Jill undertakes practical conservation work (from surface treatments to structural) on the easel paintings collection and some of the sculpture as well as being responsible for documentation (condition and treatment reports), preparation for loans and display, and safe storage and handling of these collections.

Hope Grant is the Assistant Conservator. Hope prepares objects for display, runs the archives reprographics service, undertakes some conservation and packaging of archives, and assists
and deputises as needed.

Our work

Treating Objects

Before treating an object, the conservator must look at:

• What it is made of
• What it was used for
• What is wrong with it
• Whether the damage sheds light on the history of the object
• How it is going to be used
• What has been done to similar objects recently
• Whether any treatment can be reversed

An example of how the use of an object may affect the treatment would be a piece of 18th Century china repaired with metal staples. If the object is kept to illustrate social history, the staples tell the story of a world where precious china was repaired by the only means available and returned to use; the staples would be kept, but treated to ensure rust does not spit the china. However, if it is seen as a work of art, the staples may be removed and the work returned as much as possible to reflect the artist's intention.

Archives Conservation

When dealing with publicly accessible archives the more heavily used items are subject to unavoidable wear and tear. We try to minimise this by insisting that, while in use, they are properly handled. We use microfilm/fiche for the most popular and heavily used series of records, such as parish registers and cemetery records and will only rarely produce the original documents.

We ask users to use pencils at all times, not to lean on the documents or volumes and never to press down on the spine. Volumes should be properly supported and we supply cushions to prevent unnecessary strain on the spine. We will not photocopy material which is bound or deemed unsuitable. Other reproduction methods such as photography may be used instead.

Advice

The Conservation team also give advice on caring for documents and objects to individuals and institutions. We have produced a useful fact sheet on caring for your own documents and photographs at home. This can be downloaded from the Resources page.

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