RA Conservation

Caring for our historic environment

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  • Artefact Conservation,  Conservation cleaning,  Entries,  Metalwork

    Don’t be brash with your brass!

    15th March 2018 /

    When it comes to caring for historic metalwork, less is very often more. Over-zealous cleaning and sometimes (dare-I-say-it) scrubbing, can lead to loss of carved detail in decorative metalwork. This can is undesirable when it comes to commemorative floor-brasses or plates, amongst other things. Inscriptions and dedications can be lost forever, disassociating the object from its history and ultimately losing its  significance. In addition, excess polishing or waxing can lead to built-up residues on the metalwork. While the build up of residue is unsightly, it can also be damaging to the metal itself and cause long-term corrosion problems where moisture has been trapped. With this post I will briefly explain the…

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    Rachel Arnold Comments Off on Don’t be brash with your brass!

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    Rockingham Vases

    9th July 2015

    CCT Chattels project for the North

    6th April 2016

    ‘But it’s only a jumble of fragments!’ – Investigating one stained glass panel

    27th January 2017
  • Artefact Conservation,  Entries,  Glass,  Materials,  Stained Glass

    Radiant Roundels: working wonders with glass, paint and light

    6th January 2018 /

    Roundels are small glass wonders which display detailed draughtsmanship and rich subject matter. They use light as the main medium for enriching an interior and are a delight to behold in any setting. Over the years I have been lucky enough to work closely with collections of these artworks and help preserve them for future generations. Netherlandish-style stained glass roundels are different from regular stained glass windows or panels. While stained glass windows usually use the whole space of the window, multiple pieces of glass and sometimes a building-wide scheme to create scenes, tell stories and depict figures within an architectural framework, roundels have a whole scene depicted on one piece…

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    Rachel Arnold 0 Comments

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    Rockingham Vases

    9th July 2015

    Decorative Wooden Bannister

    9th July 2015

    Conservation cleaning – Frank Green’s riding whip

    25th July 2016
  • Artefact Conservation,  Churches,  Entries,  Glass,  Stained Glass

    ‘But it’s only a jumble of fragments!’ – Investigating one stained glass panel

    27th January 2017 /

    Not worthy of attention? Some stained glass panels and whole windows are dismissed because they have no clear subject matter, are a jumbled mess and are difficult to date. In this post I discover that a small, jumbled and confused stained glass panel can tell an important story about its history and interesting science-y facts about its composition and degradation. The panel pictured comes from the church of St. Peter’s in Barton-upon-Humber and is one I worked on as a portfolio project for my degree. It has a chequered history which I enjoyed piecing together – and is certainly worthy of attention! The Task To investigate the history and significance…

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    Rachel Arnold 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Conservation cleaning – Frank Green’s riding whip

    25th July 2016

    Don’t be brash with your brass!

    15th March 2018

    Radiant Roundels: working wonders with glass, paint and light

    6th January 2018
  • Artefact Conservation,  Leather,  Metalwork

    Conservation cleaning – Frank Green’s riding whip

    25th July 2016 /

    Imagine the delight of Treasurer’s House staff and volunteers when Frank Green’s riding whip turned up in an antique shop! It was clear that this was Frank’s whip because it had his name and the name Treasurer’s House inscribed in the metalwork. The whip was quickly purchased and is now on display in the house. – A section of the metalwork where the name “Frank Green” is partially visible. Frank Green of Treasurer’s house was the man behind the unusual National Trust building we know and love today. He was an eccentric man, prone to OCD tendencies particularly when he placed studs in the floor outlining where the furniture whould…

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    Rachel Arnold 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Don’t be brash with your brass!

    15th March 2018

    Radiant Roundels: working wonders with glass, paint and light

    6th January 2018

    Decorative Wooden Bannister

    9th July 2015

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Recent Features

  • Don’t be brash with your brass!
  • Radiant Roundels: working wonders with glass, paint and light
  • In hope of a Joyful Resurrection
  • Panel of the Month – June 2017
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