Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student Sam has been working on the conservation treatment of a model clipper, brought into the furniture workshop back in February 2020 by a private client. Read the blog post to find out more about the project.

Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student Dan Mifsud specialises in Furniture. In this blog post, he discusses the history, condition and interpretation of an ornate tea caddy, kindly loaned for conservation by the Museum of the Home.

Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student David Edwards discusses his latest project: the conservation of a set of six mid-19th century oak rush-seated country chairs. Read more in the blog post.

As part of his studies, Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student David Edwards has been working on the conservation of a Thonet ‘No.28’ chair, which is owned by the Edward James Foundation. 

Most people know that the metric system was introduced in France, associated with the whirlwind of new legislation and standards that followed the French Revolution. However, it is less obvious why this occurred, and why it occurred in France rather than in England or elsewhere.

Our first assignment in the West Dean furniture conservation program: hand-plane a square piece of wood into a tapered column, break it, and put it back together.

Michael Greenwood on making a joint stool, starting from a log.

After completing the MA in Conservation Studies at West Dean, I served as an assistant for six weeks in the conservation studio of Michael Parfett in London. Michael works primarily on harps, harpsichords and frames, and the short work placement offered the opportunity to gain experience in conserving musical instruments, decorative surfaces and gilding.