Recent Advances in Glass and Ceramics Conservation

Two important international groups joined forces to deliver a truly collaborative conference held in the British Museum, one of the UK's premier institutions

The conference, jointly organised by Icon UK Ceramics and Glass Group, the ICOM-CC Glass and Ceramics Working Group and the British Museum, aimed to gather an international forum of professionals and students to discuss and disseminate the latest research and projects on the conservation of ceramics and glass, as well as network with one another. Many important topics were presented, including innovative applications of treatment approaches, new materials and technologies for conservation practice, and the implementation of new analytical and documentation tools. We would like to thank all the speakers for sharing their work with the community. 

Ceramics and Glass Conference 2019
© Paul Chirnside Conference delegates at the British Museum

 

Conference goals

  • Present relevant case studies in the conservation of glass and ceramics
  • Disseminate research results
  • Promote the application of new materials and technologies for conservation practice, as well as tools for analysis and documentation
  • Identify further research and provide networking for future collaboration and activity
  • All aspects of the conservation, study, and research of glass- and ceramics-based cultural heritage are welcome, and papers may explore a wide variety of topics. 
Ceramic and glass objects in the British Museum
© British Museum

The British Museum (left) G.139.a (late 16thcentury), Ottoman period; findspot is Iznik, Turkey. Porcelain bowl with saz leaves, blossoms and lozenges of Ottoman poems on ground of curls. Inscription. Lappets and blossoms on foot. Made of black, turquoise, cobalt, red (bole) painted and glazed ceramic, pottery. (right) 1870.0901.1 (175BC-75BC) Hellenistic, originally from Levant; findspot is Rome. Hemispherical mould-pressed glass mosaic bowl with looped lines of opaque white and wine-coloured glass, on a clear blue-green ground. Re-polished on the inside.

 

Work on this conference and publication was inspiring and rewarding, demonstrating what is possible when two like-minded and dedicated groups join forces. We are confident that Recent Advances in Glass and Ceramics Conservation 2019 will become an important resource in our field going forward and will serve to motivate future collaboration and partnerships.

 

Conference Post-prints