Furniture conservator/restorer
Furniture conservators or restorers are involved in the preservation and restoration of antique and modern furniture by using practical and scientific restoration techniques. They also advise on the storage and protection of the furniture.
The relationship between conservation and restoration is complex and depends on the purpose and utility of the piece. Conservation involves ensuring that items retain their original features; restoration may involve the use of new materials to protect and update existing features.
Furniture conservators or restorers may specialise in a particular type or period of furniture. There is scope to work in museums or in a private business, or be self-employed. Self-employed conservators must also manage their own marketing, financial and business activities. They may go on to work in the antiques sector.
Work activities vary according to the particular piece of furniture being treated and the needs of the customer and will also depend on whether you are self-employed, working for a museum or heritage organisation, or employed in a private business.
Typical activities include:
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a degree or HND in the following subjects may increase your chances:
Entry without a degree or HND is possible, and GCSE and A-level subjects in science or technical subjects, design technology and history are all relevant. In order to develop your career, a recognised qualification at HND, diploma or degree level or above is required.
Courses are available at HND, degree and postgraduate levels, both full time and part time. Entry requirements vary from course to course, so it is important to check with the individual colleges and universities.
When choosing your course, you should check that it suits your career plans and personal interests as the focus of courses differs. Some courses provide specialist training in antique furniture restoration, while others include aspects of furniture design and making; some are more focused on theory, others on extensive practical training. Most courses include the following elements:
Most restorers and almost all conservators gain an appropriate qualification prior to starting work in this field, but there is some scope for entering as an apprentice and training on the job. Some major museums have internship schemes which, although usually unpaid, are useful for gaining practical experience. Contact individual museums for further information.
Entry to this field is competitive as there are fewer apprenticeships with restoration companies than there used to be. However, it is worth pursuing these types of opportunities, either before or after gaining a qualification, in order to get experience of working with clients and their furniture. It can also provide an understanding of the demands of conservation and restoration work within a commercial environment.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
In order to establish and maintain a professional reputation, it is recommended that you become a member of an appropriate professional body, such as:
Formally, this provides a recognised quality standard to work towards and routes for professional development. Informally, it may provide valuable networking opportunities and access to information on vacancies in a field where work is often found through word of mouth and recommendation.
Both BAFRA and Icon list on their websites the courses they recognise, and Icon also offers internships.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
The training available to a furniture conservator and restorer will depend on the nature of the employer. Specialist training may be available at certain museums or heritage sites, where there may be opportunities to focus on furniture from specific periods. New skills and techniques are acquired on the job throughout a furniture conservator’s or restorer’s working life, and it is important for the practitioner to keep up to date with the latest research and techniques.
The professional bodies provide accreditation schemes for continuing professional development (CPD). The British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association (BAFRA) offers membership at various levels, dependent on experience, which allows individuals to access educational programmes and events, as well as the knowledge and expertise of other members. To gain full membership of BAFRA, certain requirements must be met. See their website for details.
The Institute of Conservation (Icon) offers the Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers (PACR) scheme. This accredits professional capability against set standards and ensures the continuation of skill development through CPD.
There is no set progression route for most furniture restorers and conservators. Those with experience working within a business, or within a museum or heritage environment, may progress to a supervisory, management or training role.
Many go on to set up their own businesses and/or work as consultants. Self-employed furniture conservators and restorers have more flexibility to define their own career direction, though there are fewer opportunities to specialise than there used to be. Those who set up in business often find that attracting private customers is one of the most challenging aspects of the work in the early stages. It is advisable to start work with a private company at first and develop experience in dealing with customers, as well as building up useful contacts.
For many, progression means becoming more specialised and gaining expert status. Some restorers go on to teach in further education (FE) or higher education (HE) institutions.
Generally, there is little mobility within the industry, as furniture conservators and restorers tend to stay in one job for a number of years. This may slow down career progression.
The British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association (BAFRA) provides a clear membership route, with levels linked to professional experience. Full members must have five years' experience and have passed the BAFRA Entry Assessment. See their website for full details.
Typical employers include:
It can be challenging to gain work in museums and entry may depend on the type of qualification you have. Some of the major museums run internship schemes for candidates with relevant degrees. These are usually unpaid positions and entry can be very competitive.
Working for antique dealers is usually more pressured than other types of employment because of the highly commercial nature of the antiques field. Salary levels are often lower in this area, although some restorers work on a profit share basis and may work for several dealers.
Self-employed conservators and restorers work for members of the public and other clients who require specialist skills to protect and preserve individual pieces of furniture. When you are starting out, it is advisable to take on all the jobs customers offer, even if they are relatively small-scale. This is an important way to build up a reputation and develop a client base.
Targeted, speculative applications may also be useful, particularly for work experience.
For self-employed furniture conservators and restorers, networking and establishing a reputation are central to securing work. Directories such as the Conservation Register and BAFRA Directory may be useful. The British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA) also has a list of companies dealing in furniture.
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