This two day course is an introduction to the conservation of feathers and featherwork. It is ideal for conservators, curators, collectors and recent graduates who want to learn and refresh their skills. After getting familiar with the fragile yet resiliant material, a talk about handcraft techniqes and examination of featherwork will raise awareness of the challenges involved in conserving feathers. Further talks accompanied by practical sessions will cover deterioration processes of feathers, various cleaning and repair techniques and also touch on preventive care of feathers and challenges with ethnographic collections.
By the end of the course you will have learned:
You will also benefit from the informal exchange of experience with other participants. Questions and debate are invited, alongside the essential teaching, demonstrations and practice.
Suitable for students, conservators, curators & collectors.
Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above
Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.
Daily timetable
Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.
From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).
Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Last day
Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.
Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.
(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)
Lydia Messerschmidt ACR is an Artefact Conservator at National Museums Scotland. She specialised in the conservation of objects made of organic materials and interested in working with objects from various cultural backgrounds. In 2017 and 2018, Lydia was guest lecturer at the University in Gothenburg where she taught conservation of feather work, skeletal and plant materials. Lydia is a committee member of the ICON Ethnography Group.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
