The team of conservation experts collectively has experience working on some of the world’s most important and finest textiles for both the public and private sector.
We pride ourselves on delivering an exemplary service to our clients; built on a foundation of many years of study, honing skills and broadening our knowledge of textiles from all over the world, whether made 2000 years ago or only yesterday. We are solution orientated, focused on enabling access, whilst safeguarding for the future; each object receiving the same level of care and attention, no matter the size or scale.
We have experience in dealing with ancient and contemporary objects:
- Archaeological Textiles
- Archival Collections
- Artworks
- Carpets / Rugs / Kilims
- Central Asian Textiles
- Chinese Textiles
- Costume
- Curtains / Wall Coverings / Hangings
- Ecclesiastical Vestments, Frontals & Banners
- Embroideries
- Fashion & Film Costumes / Props
- Indian Textiles
- Islamic Textiles
- Quilts & Coverlets
- Sports Memorabilia
- Tapestries
- Trade Union Banners
- Upholstery
- Wedding Dresses
Recent projects have involved working with the Henry Moore Foundation, Palace of Westminster, Hayward Gallery, Royal Ballet & Opera, William Morris Gallery and Paisley Museum.
Interventive Treatment
- Specialist conservation cleaning of complex textiles, ensuring necessary measures are undertaken to mitigate risk to the work
- Stain removal
- Stitch repairs and consolidation
- Relining
Mounting, Installation & Display
- Facilitating safe display, offering creative solutions to showcase any object
- Preparing flat textiles for conservation framing or wall mounting
- Hanging mechanisms for suspending works
- Bespoke mannequins for costumes
Condition Reports, Surveys & Maintenance
- Providing a sound understanding of condition, long-term care requirements and conservation recommendations
- Enabling smooth transactions for transporting works internationally
- Ensuring thorough documentation for future sale, consolidating provenance and proof of condition
- Mitigating long-term damage
- Specialist conservation cleaning programmes
- Monitoring change to ensure the condition remains stable
- Advising on preventive and interventive conservation
- Assistance in the event of a disaster
Preventive
- Environmental recommendations
- Advice on pest control & insect infestation eradication
- Long-term storage solutions
Training Courses & Lecturing
- Seminars for museum and archive staff providing an introduction to conservation
- Practical workshops tailored to the client’s requirements
Archaeological Scroll
Wet Cleaning a Suzani
Backing Removal of 18th Century Chinese Kossu
Detail of a Tunic worn by Rudolf Nureyev as Romeo in The Royal Ballet Production of ‘Romeo & Juliet’
Rudolf Nureyev’s Tunic Mounted for Display
Detail of an Eduardo Terrazas Before Treatment
Detail of an Eduardo Terrazas Before Treatment
Pia Camil Silk Artwork Before Treatment
Pia Camil Silk Artwork After Treatment
Accredited members
Jessica Burgess ACR
Jessica founded Soteria Conservation in 2020. She holds a BA in Organics Conservation from the University of the Arts, London and became accredited in 2020. She worked at a number of studios, honing her practical skills, while gaining managerial experience. Projects have taken her as far as India, the Middle East and the USA.
Jessica has lectured widely, covering topics such as mounting, conservation practices for makers, and caring for textiles within archive collections. Jessica is driven by the complex challenges of conservation, whether coordinating projects aboard, developing the team or researching forefront practices. She is particularly interested in interdisciplinary learning and the evolving relationship between heritage, craft and innovation.
Client testimonials
Jessica Burgess collaborates regularly with the costume archive of the Royal Ballet and Opera Collections, providing conservation advice and condition reports, mounting displays at the Royal Opera House since 2018. Her attention to detail whilst handling our collection and knowledge of transportation logistics are exceptional - I have tremendous confidence in Jessica's expertise and the support she delivers to produce exhibitions enjoyed by 750,000+ visitors each year.
Robin Footitt
Exhibitions Curator - Royal Ballet and Opera
Jessica Burgess (Soteria Conservation) is an outstanding and dynamic textile and costume conservator who finds a solution for almost any problem. She is highly professional and goes out of her way to accommodate her clients’ requirements. She is basically a joy to work with.
Francesca Galloway
Francesca Galloway, Founder
We’ve worked with Jessica / Soteria Conservation on many conservation and exhibition projects over a number of years and have always been impressed by her diligence, attention to detail, careful explanations of what is required, and beautifully presented work.
Roisin Inglesby
Curator, William Morris Gallery