Mengs’ copy of Raphael’s School of Athens was painted in 1755 as one of a series of exemplary works for the gallery at Northumberland House. It was damaged both by a fire...
The route to museumaker and Killhope can be tracked back to early research in the fabulous stores at the...
The helmet was treated by Andy Thackeray, an intern in Furniture Conservation. He describes his treatment below. - Cracked and lifting lacquer on the iron substrate rim of the...
The head and arms of the Iki-ningyo were treated by Sofia Marques in sculpture conservation and Richard Mulholland in paper conservation. It appears that there is a very fine top...
As an intern at the V&A my main task has been locating photographs of the original sculpture that has been cast and displayed in our magnificent Cast Courts. I have scoured...
I was handed a hammer and encouraged to whack the rock hard. In an instant a startling starburst flash of light glanced from the interior as it fell...
The practical work on this collection of objects is now progressing. This follows the initial assessments of the condition of each object. The conservation is split between:...
If you’ve recently been to the V&A and walked over the Gilbert Bayes Gallery of Sculpture which runs mid-height between the two Cast Courts, you will have seen that the...
This week, I am introducing you to Martin Welsh, one of the technicians working on the Cast Court project and whose ‘magic’ operates in the beautiful frame-supports he builds...
Approaching the second anniversary of the opening of the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries, we have some exciting new arrivals to the galleries on long loan from Her Majesty...
I joined the V&A just over a year ago and was thrilled to learn that I was going to be working on the Cast Courts project. Their vast spaces and monumental reproductions of...
The first 10 weeks have past and now I am turning to the last few months at the V&A to understand what I do with the journey I have been on. The first 10 weeks focused on...
TeacupPlace of origin: Nagasaki (made)Date: about 1979 (made)Artist/Maker:Mori, Masahiro (designer) Hakusan Porcelain Company (manufacturer)Materials and Techniques: Porcelain...
VasePlace of origin: United States (made)Date: 1983 (made)Artist/Maker:Morrison, Jens (maker)Materials and Techniques: EarthenwareMuseum number: C.174&A-1984Gallery location:...
VasePlace of origin: Copenhagen (manufactured)Date: 1982 (designed)Artist/Maker:Manz, Bodil (designer) Bing & Grøndahl (manufacturer)Materials and Techniques: Porcelain with...
Coffee PotPlace of origin: Staffordshire (made)Date: 1957-1968 (made)Artist/Maker:Seeney, Enid (decoration, designer) Arnold, Tom (shape, designer) Ridgway...
PlatePlace of origin: Meissen (made)Date: ca. 1765-1775 (made)Artist/Maker:Meissen porcelain factory (manufacturer)Materials and Techniques: Hard-paste porcelain, painted in...
TrayDie Leiden des jungen Werther; The Sorrows of Young WertherObject:TrayPlace of origin:Meissen (made)Date: ca. 1790 (made)Artist/Maker:Meissen porcelain factory (maker)...
PlatePlace of origin:Derby (made)Date: ca. 1810 (made)Artist/Maker:Derby Porcelain factory (manufacturer) Lucas, Daniel (senior) (painter)Materials and Techniques:Soft-paste...
PlaquePlace of origin: Jingdezhen (made)Date: 1965-1975 (made)Artist/Maker:Wu, Kang (decorator)Materials and Techniques: Porcelain painted in enamelsCredit Line: Given by Mr Simon...
Brush potPlace of origin:Jingdezhen (made)Date:1630-1640 (made)Artist/Maker: unknownMaterials and Techniques: Porcelain painted in underglaze blueMuseum number: 768-1883Gallery...
After weeks of using the laser cutter to its full potential. 7 tables, 22 chairs, 1 counter top, 8 reflectors and a whole lot of goodness were cut and packed. Ready for the big...
You may have noticed some of the press recently making the rounds for the sale of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels (among other parts of her collection). Looking at the lots on...
When I have a spare moment, I try and go to our Blythe road premises, to do some research on the Cast Courts in the V&A Archives. Ahead of my visits, my colleagues James...
Ornament is decoration or embellishment. It is any additional detail added to an object, interior or architectural structure which serves no other purpose than to make it more...
We, the Sculpture studio in Conservation department, are really happy to contribute to the project blog and welcome this initiative taken by Melanie, the assistant curator to the...
Postmodernism opens in one short week and we’ve now finalized the exhibition, ready for press previews. I thought I’d write one last post on the exhibition-making...
From 19-25 September, we're opening our studio doors to everybody during London Design Festival. We're keeping it informal; come by check out what we're working on,...
The sleeve on the armour was in the worst condition (in terms of the textiles) of all the pieces that made up the armour, and required the most intricate treatment. The silk...
In all museums, no matter how big or small, there’s always a time when you make a ‘discovery’ as you stumble upon a piece tucked away in a corner by long-gone curators....