Conservation of a Tudor ceiling at Hampton Court

#AntiqueRestoration"The conservation team are investigating the magnificent ceiling of the Wolsey Closet at Hampton Court Palace. For many years, it was thought to be made of a material called leather maché, but it was revealed that this is not the case. The exact date and origin of the ceiling are also a mystery. In order to conserve this glorious craftwork for another 500 years and choose the best conservation methods, we need first to know about its history and its condition. The conservators’ detective work involves closely examining materials and structure through inspections by experts combined with scientific paint and material analysis. This information will help us decide which materials and methods can be used to treat the ceiling without damaging it. An added bonus is that we get to understand the craft practices of those that made the ceiling and add to our historical understanding which cannot be found through the study of documents alone. Our conservator Amy Anderson tells us more 🕵️‍♀️