ICON - Institute of Conservation - Gilding & Decorative Surfaces

Icon welcomes individuals and organisations from all backgrounds who identify with the conservation and preservation of our cultural heritage. Our membership embraces the entire conservation community as well as members of the public who are keen to learn more or show their support for conservation work.

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Gilding & Decorative Surfaces

Officers & Committee
News & Past Events (Eligible members only)
Resources (Eligible members only)

The aim of our Group is to provide a forum for discussion and debate on the subject of gilding and decorative surfaces which covers a wide range of objects. We organise study days, workshops and educational visits. These events, such as our conference in 2009 which was held in London, bring our members, as well as others working in the field of conservation, together to share their knowledge and concerns. We also organise social gatherings in interesting venues in order to bring members together in an informal atmosphere. We keep members informed of conferences, exhibitions and educational courses in related fields.

Forthcoming events

Evening visit to an 1890's period house in Clapham, London - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!

Date: Tuesday 2^nd November, 2010

Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Cost: £15 (minimum 8, maximum 18 visitors)

Nearest tube: Clapham South (northern line), followed by a 10 minute walk

Although tens of thousands of middle class terraced houses were built in London at the end of the 19^th century, very few have retained their character and fittings through changes in fashion and the ravages of time. This is a rare opportunity to see the colourful and atmospheric interiors of such an 1890's house in Clapham, along with the collection of antique, arts and crafts and contemporary furnishing which the owners have built up over twenty years. Christopher Claxton Stevens* will give an introductory talk and there will be a tour, ending with wine and nibbles.

*Christopher Claxton Stevens was a director of Normans Adams Ltd. (antique dealers), has served on the Council of the Furniture History Society and is a past Chairman of the Regional Furniture Society. He is an advisor to the Furniture Conservation Course at West Dean College and is a lecturer and author of many books and articles. He is a trustee of the Geffrye Museum and the Art Workers' Guild.

To book your place, please contact Ian Newman by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit to The Regency Town House

13 Brunswick Square,

Brighton & Hove,

East Sussex

BN3 1EH

Date: Saturday 14th August

Time: 10.30 - 3.30 (lunch nearby 12.30 - 2.00 not included in the price).

Cost: The Day is for a maximum of 20 people: Icon Members £20, Student Members £15 and non-members £25.

Booking: To secure a place please contact Ian Newman: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or for more information please contact Gerry Alabone: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nick Tyson, the Brunswick Town Charitable Trust's Curator, will host the Group for the day, which will include a guided tour of these remarkable two houses & their archives. The lavishly appointed main house is currently in a very interesting stage of its restoration. Nick will explain the history of the development and the house's main rooms. The ornamental schemes display beautiful original plasterwork, composition, joinery, fireplaces and ironwork. The Group will then explore the fascinating basement of nearby number 10 which is virtually unaltered since it was first used as servants' quarters nearly 200 years ago. Later there will be the opportunity to view items from the ornament archive, including moulds and sample boards from the firm of George Jackson & Sons, among others, as well as an extensive archive of materials about life in the Regency period. There will be ample opportunity for discussion such as approaches to cleaning architectural plaster ornament.

The Regency Town House is a grade 1 Listed terraced home of the mid-1820s. The unified facades of Brunswick square are the impressive focal point of Brunswick Town the speculative project designed by Charles Busby. The Regency Town House project was established in the 1980s to ensure the conservation of the house, which is now being developed as a heritage centre and museum to focus on the architectural & social history of Brighton and Hove between the 1780s & 1840s. Number 13 was a rare architectural gem ideal for preservation. A short time later the Trust was offered the opportunity to purchase the basement of number 10 Brunswick square. Visit: http://www.rth.org.uk/

Previous Events

Practical Wood Carving for Conservators

Date: Wednesday 3^rd February 2010

Time: 10:00am - 4:30pm

Venue: Austrey, Warwickshire (between Nottingham and Birmingham, just off the A42/M42 at Junction 11)

Cost: £95 Icon members (excluding Institutional/Corporate members), £75 Icon student members, £115 Non members (including Institutional/Corporate members)

Refreshments will be provided, but participants need to bring a packed lunch.

We are delighted to announce that Michael Painter, one of Britain's most experienced and sought after Master Carvers has agreed to host a carving day for a limited number of conservators. Complete beginners and advanced carvers are most welcome and tools and materials will be provided. Mike's philosophy is ‘with patience and determination anyone can carve as long as they are encouraged and shown the correct techniques'.

The day will include tuition and demonstrations on correct tool use and handling, chisel sharpening, holding and fixing the carving and the procedure for in-carving lost elements to carved picture frames or furniture. There will be a talk on reverse boxwood moulds, which were used in the manufacture of compo frames and a demonstration on how they were carved. The day will be very hands-on and participants will have the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice by working at their own pace and level of ability.

For more information or to book your place, please contact Claire Daly at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Group Award
The Group Committee have great pleasure in announcing Alison Stock is to be given the Group Award for her paper “Medieval Gilding Techniques: A Practical Investigation into the Methods & Materials for Water Gilding According to the Treatises”. Alison receives a cheque for £150 & a voucher for £150 both from Mylands.
We would like to thank Mylands for their generous support.

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