Conserving Context

Relating Object Treatment to Collections and Settings

Edited by Gerry Alabone

Book cover: Conserving Context

Extent: 110 pages

Publisher: Archetype Publications Ltd 

Subjects: Art & Art History, Book History, Conservation, & Museum Studies

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(October 2014)

ISBN: 9781909492196

8.27 x 11.65 inches

Price: $65.00

Out of stock

Contributors explore the challenges of treating objects within dispersed, altered, or lost contexts, and how conservation decisions-particularly for decorative surfaces-can impact the integrity of the whole. The papers address nuanced dilemmas around balancing consistency in treatment with contextual sensitivity, offering thoughtful approaches to complex heritage environments.


The conference papers contained in this volume explore the manner in which the significance of objects relates to their collection and setting as interdependent elements of the whole context. Complex interacting or conflicting contexts – such as past, dispersed or destroyed collections and settings – affect the intentions of current decisions for treatment. Also the methods chosen for treatment of decorative surfaces of objects can conserve or change the whole context of collection and setting. Consideration is given to the dilemmas encountered in attempting to maintain a consistency of approach between the intentions guiding the treatment of a setting and objects within it, and whether it is appropriate for objects to be considered and treated in a different way from their wider context. The approaches taken with these issues are complex, nuanced and distinctly formulated.

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Context and understanding in country house collections

Christopher Ridgway

The decorative surface within the working royal palace

David Wheeler

The Picture Gallery and Grand Staircase at Attingham Park: to gild or not to gild?

Sarah Kay

The conservation and reproduction of neo-classical window seats designed by Robert Adam for the Library at Kenwood House

Ann Katrin Koster and Laura Houliston

The two make a pair: differentiated treatment of a pair of gilded stools displayed in the furniture gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Zoe Allen and Lea Wegwitz

Re-altering the glazing alterations of a Burne-Jones frame

Alastair Johnson

Working with complex collections: the Staffordshire Hoard

Deborah Cane

Making Mrs Soane's Morning Room 'permanently magical'

Jane Wilkinson,

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Context and understanding in country house collections

Christopher Ridgway

The decorative surface within the working royal palace

David Wheeler

The Picture Gallery and Grand Staircase at Attingham Park: to gild or not to gild?

Sarah Kay

The conservation and reproduction of neo-classical window seats designed by Robert Adam for the Library at Kenwood House

Ann Katrin Köster and Laura Houliston

The two make a pair: differentiated treatment of a pair of gilded stools displayed in the furniture gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Zoë Allen and Lea Wegwitz

Re-altering the glazing alterations of a Burne-Jones frame

Alastair Johnson

Working with complex collections: the Staffordshire Hoard

Deborah Cane

Making Mrs Soane’s Morning Room ‘permanently magical’

Jane Wilkinson

  • Edited by Gerry Alabone

"... lavishly illustrated and well written record of seven highly innovative and carefully thought out projects. ...these papers offer excellent study notes for conservation students and their tutors, I would recommend this publication as a valuable addition to college reading lists." ICON News - January 2015 "This generously illustrated collection of papers creates an invaluable reference work ...when considering the potential treatment of any object" The Furniture History Society Newsletter - May 2015

"... lavishly illustrated and well written record of seven highly innovative and carefully thought out projects. ...these papers offer excellent study notes for conservation students and their tutors, I would recommend this publication as a valuable addition to college reading lists."

"This generously illustrated collection of papers creates an invaluable reference work ...when considering the potential treatment of any object"