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Highlights in this issue

The new miniatures gallery

Alan Derbyshire, Head of Sculpture, Metals, Ceramics and Glass Conservation, specialist in portrait miniature conservation Timea Tallian, Miniature Conservator, MPhil student, RCA/V&A Conservation

The new Miniatures Gallery tells the story of the portrait miniature in Britain from its first appearance at the court of Henry VIII.

Fur trade legacy

Marion Kite, Senior Textile Conservator

Since the mid 1990s a number of international designers have been using fur and it was a prominent feature on the catwalks for the winter season of 2004.  A controversial subject in most UK museums and are rarely acquired by the V& A dress collection, fur is again in focus in the museum world and in fashion!

Into battle: Conservation of a Venetian shield

Nigel Bamforth, Senior Furniture Conservator

The treatment of the reverse side of a gilt and glazed leather Venetian parade shield, that was probably made for Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince Bishop of Salzburg (1587-1611) posed numerous problems due to the instability of the leather.

Smart and Techno Fabrics: fundamental properties of new fibres and their future

Leonidas Dokos, Research Fellow, Textile Conservation Centre, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton Mary M Brooks, Senior Lecturer, Textile Conservation Centre, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton

To explore fundamental issues in the understanding of the long-term behaviour of smart and techno-textiles in a museum context.