Books and Library Materials 

What was it that made you decide to study conservation? 

Books Conservation Subject Lead Leonor Loureiro: The possibility to join two areas that I love: science and the arts. 

What’s the most unusual item/story connected to an item you’ve conserved? 

MA Conservation Studies student Amelia: In my previous job, I made a mount for the earliest known printed Japanese manuscript from the 9th Century. 

Metals 

Can I study conservation without previous experience? 

Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student Chris: Yes, you definitely can! I didn’t have any experience with metalwork before starting here. For my portfolio I included things that used similar skills and hobbies that showed my interest in conservation and practical hands-on work. For example I worked in design before coming here. 

What opportunities are there for work placements? 

Metals Conservation Subject Lead Kate Jennings: During the MA programme, there is a 6 week placement, tutors are always happy to help students to find placements and internships during and after studying. Previous metals work placements include: Historic England, National Museums Scotland, Hall Conservation and V&A Museum. 

What are your most used tools? 

Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student Lauren: For surface cleaning, we are using these a lot; a scalpel, a swab, glass bristle brush and pot of solvent. 

Clocks 

What’s on your workbench at the moment? 

MA Conservation Studies student JC: On my workbench I have got a 1830s chronometer carriage clock. It’s a really fine example of a clock from that period. It is in pretty good shape, but there’s some work to be done on the escapement, like making a new screw and working on the escape wheel teeth. 

What would be your dream object to work on? 

Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies student John: The Astronomical Clock of Strasbourg 

Furniture 

What is the most fun part of conserving a piece of craftsmanship? 

MA Conservation Studies student Chris: The before, capturing it before conservation, and then the end result of the treatment I have done. 

What would be your dream object to work on? 

MA Conservation Studies student Abi: Being at West Dean I’ve been able to study the art of Sadeli micro-mosaic on decorative objects and pieces from Persia, and so my dream object has been this Anglo-Indian sewing box. 

Ceramics 

What’s the most unusual item/story connected to an item you’ve conserved? 

MA Conservation Studies student Elizabeth: This 16th century Maiolica dish with previous repairs with rivets and overpainting. It’s really interesting because it used to be a vase that was cut in half to be a dish. The dish is part of the collection at the Russell Cotes Museum. 

What were you doing before studying conservation? 

MA Conservation Studies student Elena: I worked as printer based in Shoreditch, London, and I worked in that job for a couple of months before covid, and during covid I began finding out about conservation as a field in general and then began looking more and more into how it could be a career for me, so after putting feelers out, I was recommended to come to West Dean. As I’ve not got a heritage background, I have an illustration background, I wasn’t quite sure if that would be applicable, but what’s good about West Dean is that they take in a variety of people with different experiences and backgrounds. I sent in a portfolio of my illustrations and my previous academic work and I got in. 

What would be your dream object to work on? 

MA Conservation Studies student Lucie: Any religious statues of artefacts, especially from the Sistine Chapel.