Many people think of upholstery in terms of what they can readily see when they look at a piece of furniture - the covering fabrics and the trimmings. Despite their importance to outward appearance, they reflect only a small and literally superficial aspect of the upholsterer's work. The major elements, which comprise the under-upholstery, are unseen and, though they govern form and comfort, often escape consideration altogether.’ (V&A Museum Journal 1992 Issue 02)
There are several books about traditional upholstery techniques, but in 2001 the first edition of, ‘Upholstery Conservation: Principals and Practice’ by Kathryn Gill and Dinah Eastop was published. Whilst still a valuable reference work, all these years later many conservators have voiced concern about their lack of knowledge and confidence in treating upholstered furniture.
To help address the need for more basic training, the Icon Textiles Group will be hosting a Back-to- Basics workshop on upholstery conservation taught by Heather Porter ACR.
Days 1 and 2 will take place at the V&A, South Kensington.
Day 1 will cover tools, materials and furniture types, designed to make conservators more knowledgeable and comfortable with identifying and describing upholstery.
Day 2 will concentrate on typical damage, a range of treatments, considerations for treatments, examination and documentation, and references. Both days will include very short practical sessions.
Day 3 will feature a three-hour tour and lecture at the Frederick Parker Collection and Archive based at the London Metropolitan University Special Collections. This tour can be joined separately, so people who do not participate in the course can join this tour as well. The extra spaces on the tour will be posted as a separate event closer to the time
There will be 14 places offered, plus a limited number of places on the tour for non-workshop participants. Bookings will open on the 1st of August.
As a reminder, the results of the Textile Group's recent Upholstery survey can be found here: Icon Textile Group's Upholstery Survey Results
