We have launched a new website and are reviewing this page. Find out more

Highlights in this issue

Restoration programme of the Chinese Palace, Oranienbaum, St Petersburg

Zoë Allen, Frames and Furniture Conservator

The Chinese Palace of Oranienbaum is truly unique in that much of the dazzling interior decoration, furniture and objects on display are original and date back to the Palace's construction.

Conserving the copies of the Ajanta cave paintings at the V&A

Divia Patel, Curator, Asian Department Nicola Costaras, Head Paintings Conservator

In June 2005, 81 oil on canvas copies of the Ajanta cave paintings, unseen by Museum staff for the past 13-25 years, became the focus of a major conservation and storage project which resulted in the 're-discovery' of some important paintings

Treasures of Fairford

Paul Williamson , Director of Collections and Keeper of Sculpture, Metalwork, Ceramics & Glass Kathrin Rahfoth , Stained Glass Conservator

The Museum has recently acquired two early sixteenth century panels originally belonging to Fairford Church in Gloucestershire. They shed light not only on English Late Gothic glass but also on later processes of restoration.

The development of English black japanning 1620-1820

Katja Tovar Azuero, Furniture Conservator

Oriental lacquer objects were first imported into Europe in the late sixteenth century. Imitations of lacquer by European craftsmen using their own materials and techniques were known as 'japanning'.