Over the years we have had to answer several disaster calls most often involving water or pest outbreak. Sometimes the disaster is so big that the emergency services are the only ones allowed on the scene (The Clandon Park fire for example) and we have become involved after the event. Read more about our involvement …
A late 19th Century English Sussex waterproofed smock in vulnerable condition from the collection of the Worthing Museum has recently been conserved partly as an ICON/HLF funded internship project started some years ago. Initial work was undertaken by Mira when an intern at the ZTC Studio but the more complex adhesive treatment required for the …
Continue reading “A Wonderful Waterproofed Smock from Worthing Museum”
The 16th century Flemish (?) tapestry fragment colloquially known as the Gladiator was bought by Rudyard Kipling to furnish his family home Bateman’s, now owned by the National Trust. Prior to conservation at the ZTC Studio it was in poor condition with weak and missing areas of silk and wool weft. As is common with …
An ecclesiastical banner (probably 19th C) with appliquéd Saint motif with painted head and hands, metal braid edging and metal fringing decorating each side.
ZTC had the pleasure of working on a double sided polychrome silk embroidered Chinese wall hanging (86cm x 460cm) from Alphonse Mucha’s studio, which we conserved and for provided a storage and travelling mount and box.
Portcullis House was opened in 2001 to provide additional office space and public Committee rooms for members of parliament and their staff. A number of contemporary artworks were commissioned for the building and it now houses one of the UK’s largest contemporary textile collections. Many of the early works were consigned by the architect as …
Continue reading “Order in the House: students stitch up Parliament”
Treatment is now complete on a decadent aubergine silk man’s smoking jacket from Manchester Art Gallery for their exhibition Dandy Style opening on 4th February 2021. The conservation was undertaken by Jamie Robinson and was generously funded by the Costume Society’s own Elizabeth Hammond Conservation Grant to ensure the jacket’s longevity on and after display. …
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The Doggett’s Race, a four mile race on the Thames passing under 11 bridges began in 1715 and is believed to be the oldest continually competed sporting event in the world. Started by Thomas Doggett, manager of the Drury Lane Theatre the race taken over by the Fishmongers’ Livery Company after his death in 1722. …
In 2012 four iconic David Bowie costumes chosen for the V&A Bowie exhibition were conserved by ZTC. The exhibition went on to be one of the museums most successful shows and toured overseas. My favourite was the incredible suit that Bowie wore during “The Man Who Sold the World” tour which was based on the …
This article by our former administrator Victoria Haddock was first published in the Costume Society Newsletter, Autumn 2019 In 2018, Zenzie Tinker was delighted to be appointed as the Advisor for Conservation and Display of the Legal Costume Collection at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The collection of legal and judicial costume and …
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