Selecting a conservator

Depending on the extent of the work required, you may have produced a short brief or a detailed document. Decide whether to approach a single Conservator, or request quotations from a number of Conservators.  

Look for evidence of appropriate training and experience. In addition to the initial training, a Conservator may be Accredited by Icon. This means that they are subject to regular professional development reviews and assessed by their Accredited peers to verify that they are keeping in touch with the latest techniques and advances in the sector.

To find out if they're Accredited, search for them by name on the Conservation Register.

 

You should agree the work to be carried out and ask for a written treatment proposal to be submitted with the estimate.  Additional charges may be made for extensive documentation. Depending on the size of the project, you may also be consulted periodically during the course of the work.  You should expect to be consulted before the treatment proposal is altered or any additional work is carried out.

The Contract (or ‘Work Order’) document should include a basic description of the treatment plan and expected start and finish dates plus any other relevant terms and conditions.  The cost quoted should be broken down and VAT clearly shown. The payment structure will differ depending on the Conservator and the value of the work to be carried out.  It is usual to pay a deposit at the outset of the work with additional payments made at specific stages or upon completion of the work.  The value of work should also be stated.  Conservator usually know a lot about the history and composition of objects and may be able to advise you on the significance of the object, but for a valuation you should consult an auction house or a valuation expert.  The Conservator may request to see proof of ownership documentation.

Where items are being treated off site you may wish to view the treatment in progress by prior arrangement with the Conservator. On occasions you may be contacted during treatment for example if the Conservator has uncovered something particularly interesting or unexpected during the course of the work or where a Conservator decides during treatment that changes should be made to their initial treatment proposal.

Conservators work in a variety of locations and conditions. However, the workspace should always be self-contained and fitted out for the purpose. Does the workspace appear well-ordered, with careful handling and storage of the objects undergoing or awaiting conservation? Does the Conservator operate within current health and safety legislation and guidelines? (For example, you could look for toxic fume extraction apparatus. Does the Conservator have an emergency response plan in case of fire, flood or building damage? Do they operate in a professional and efficient fashion? 

If the agreed work is undertaken on the Conservator's premises, the Conservator shall be responsible for the risk of damage to or loss of the Item whilst in the Conservator’s custody. However, the Client shall be responsible for arranging transit of the Item to and from the Conservator’s premises unless otherwise agreed in writing and the Client shall be responsible for the insurance of the Item whilst in transit. If the agreed work is undertaken on the Client's premises, then (a) the Conservator shall be responsible for any loss or damage to the Item caused as a result of the Conservator's negligence, or (b) in all other circumstances the Client shall be responsible for any loss or damage to the Item and shall take all necessary steps to insure the Item.

The Conservator should always keep careful records of work carried out. This is what is expected of a professional and is vital if the object requires work at a later time. You should expect a final report which, along with any photographs, can be kept with the item or collection.

Conservation reports are used by conservators to record their investigations of items for which conservation is sought and to inform treatment proposals. During the preparation of a report a conservator will assess the object and its needs, and put forward advice on the steps that can be taken to ensure its conservation and future well being.

The type of report required and the amount of information to be gathered will depend largely on the needs of the client. As the client, you need to be clear about the level of information you require in a report and, if appropriate, the purpose for which it is to be used. For example, some bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund or The Church of England may require a report as a precursor to agreeing funding. These reports tend to be detailed and specific guidelines are often published by the relevant body.

The preparation of a report can be time consuming and you should establish whether the conservator will make a charge for this process.

Preliminary report - As the name suggests, a preliminary report is carried out before any conservation work is started. It will describe and, as far as possible, identify damage and causes of deterioration; it will inform the treatment proposal(s) and will ultimately guide the estimate or quotation given for work to be carried out.

Interim report - An interim report may be required at one or more stages in a larger project and may act as a trigger for subsequent phases of work. The need for interim reports should be identified at the outset as part of the overall project plan.

Final report - A final report is provided on completion of conservation work. It will normally include a description of the item prior to conservation, a record of treatment carried out and will normally include a photographic record of the item before, during and after conservation.

Condition report - Condition reports will form part of preliminary/interim/final reports, or they may be commissioned as distinct pieces of work to describe the condition of an item at a particular point in time (but not making recommendations for treatment) e.g. recording the condition of an item prior to it going on loan.

As basic guidance, reports will commonly include the types of information listed below.However, not all of these elements will be appropriate for every conservation project. Your initial discussions with the conservator will provide guidance on which aspects are relevant to the project with which you are involved. Some bodies, such as The Church of England - Cathedral and Church Buildings Division have produced individual guidelines on the information that it requires to accompany faculty and grant applications. 

When conservation work has been completed, you should ask for a treatment record or written confirmation that work was carried out as originally specified in the treatment proposal. This information, together with the initial condition report should be kept with the item that has undergone conservation. It is your responsibility as custodian to ensure that this is the case and that the information is passed on to subsequent owners or made available to inform future conservation work.