Brighton Museum & Art Gallery has a truly exceptional world cultures collection. Following the success of the multi-platformed Fashioning Africa project, a national programme aimed at supporting community partners to research and explore museum collections, the museum has continued to work cross-continent to display objects from the collection within in their indigenous communities. The ZTC …
We have now treated a total of ten panels of embroidery for the Dubai Cultural & Arts Authority Collection in the United Arab Emirates. The panels once formed part of a number of 19th Century Kiswa made for the holy Ka’ba at Mecca. Each year a new Kiswa is embroidered in the traditional manner and …
By Caterina Celada Prior, Intern at ZTC Summer 2019. This summer I moved from the Scottish Glasgow rain to the sunny Brighton to spend an excellent time as intern at Zenzie Tinker Conservation studio, following the first year of the MPhil in Textile Conservation from the University of Glasgow. I have enjoyed my time working …
By Ania Golebiowska and Jamie Robinson The Royal Pavilion is rather extraordinary; a celebration of styles from across the globe with no discernible links. The Prince Regent’s ‘Pleasure Palace’ is purportedly the first case of interior design existing outside of architecture. George IV employed the theatre designer John Nash to transform the grounds during 1815-1820, …
Continue reading “Stephen Jones Hats: A Pragmatic Approach to Mounting 160 Objects in 30 Days”
We have been lucky enough to have conserved more than twenty Diaghilev Ballet Russes costumes over the years from both public and private collections. Once when we were working on a number of Ballet Russes there was a knock at the door and man from a neighbouring business asked if he could have a look …
We keep thinking things can not get any busier or more exciting work wise and then they do – 2018 has been no exception! This year we have been particularly challenged space-wise as our long term site work teams from Westminster Abbey and Knole came home to roost bringing mountains of equipment back with them …
Conservation of Hats Through an Intern’s Eyes by Emma Hartikka Conclusions and Impressions It is over – my internship period with Zenzie Tinker Conservation! Hard to get to grips with how fast the time flew. It is time to look back and reflect on the time gone by. Firstly, I should mention that the hats …
Charles Frederick Worth was the Lincolnshire designer who dominated the Paris fashion scene in the latter part of the nineteenth century, otherwise known as the ‘father of haute couture’. [1] It is a rare treat to have such sartorial history pass through your hands and so I was delighted to have the opportunity to work on …
Continue reading “Dressed For Best: conserving couture, restoring its Worth”
Conservation of Hats Through an Intern’s Eyes by Emma Hartikka Tricky Treatments Unfolding The half way mark of my internship is now passed. I have already learned a lot about textile conservation and different treatments used. Through frustrations, problem solving, little successes and massive help from my colleagues, the secrets of some of the treatment …
Conservation of Hats Through an Intern’s Eyes by Emma Hartikka Whodunnit – Labels as Clues to the Past When working with historical objects, you quickly become interested in the aspects hiding behind the purely tangible features such as materials, structure, technique, colors, style and damages. This is the case even with the 21 Worthing hats. …