Two incredibly fragile early 20th Century Indian phulkari embroidered cotton curtains from Rudyard Kipling’s study at National Trust property Bateman’s were recently conserved at our studio. It is fascinating to think that Kipling wrote many of his most famous works in this study with his beautiful Sussex countryside view framed …
I remember noticing the exquisite 17th Century casket on my first walk through the castle. It was hidden away in the library, a beautiful suite of 19th C reading rooms furnished in crimson plush, polished wood and overflowing with the most amazing treasures of every type. The casket was squashed …
A new display at Smallhythe House, Ellen Terry’s Tudor cottage now in the care of the National Trust, opened just before the whole world stopped because of the pandemic. Even though it has not been possible for visitors to see the new season’s display yet we we would like to …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Conservation of the Manchester smoking jacket”
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 …