Zenzie Tinker Conservation has been caring for textiles from our Brighton studio since 2003, and today we're the largest independent textile conservation company in the UK. Our experienced team advises, investigates, treats, preserves and presents all types of textiles and dress, bringing excellence and enthusiasm to every assignment.
No two projects look the same. We've worked on state beds, huge wall tapestries and hangings, historic costume and treasured family textiles. We're lucky to count some wonderful cultural, heritage and arts organisations among our clients.
When objects can come to us, our spacious and well-equipped premises with bespoke fitted conservation laboratory and washroom allows us to carry out detailed cleaning and conservation treatments in a controlled environment. This dedicated space supports wet cleaning, dyeing, stitching and mounting work and everything in between.
This studio work is complemented by another of our great strengths, exhibition and sitework; we are well used to working in less-than-traditional spaces, often at height and out of hours, fitting around opening hours, busy schedules or tight exhibition deadlines.
Recent projects include work for Brighton & Hove Museums, the National Trust, The Merchant Taylors’ Company, Royal Museums Greenwich, the V&A, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.
Textile and Mixed Media Conservation
We offer a complete range of conservation treatments, from minimal intervention to more hands-on solutions, including cleaning, stitched and adhesive repairs, humidification and stabilisation, tailored to what's right for each textile, tapestry or costume and how it will be used.
Our paper and leather conservation skills also mean we can care for mixed media objects like fans, screens, pattern books and works on paper, alongside more traditional textile collections.
And we're with you the whole way, from that first conversation through to final installation, whether that's in a historic house, church, museum or your family home.
Costume Mounting and Display
Good display matters, a well-designed mount protects an object for the long term as well as helping it be understood and appreciated as it should be. Our skills range from fabric-covered display boards to custom tapestry hoists.
We work with permanent costume collections and major exhibitions alike, creating custom mounts and re-sculpted mannequins that bring costume to life with real character and pose.
Collections Care and Management
We help ensure the long-term preservation of textile collections belonging to historic houses, museums, corporate clients and more. We carry out condition assessments, cleaning, pest monitoring, environmental management and storage and transport solutions.
Zenzie is Conservation Advisor for the Royal Courts of Justice Legal Dress Collection, leading care of both its stored and displayed objects. We have also overseen Bloomberg London’s textile commissions, including Pae White’s Pomona tapestry, with annual surveys tracking changes and catching condition issues early.
We’re happy to advise on storage, display and preventive care, keeping objects stable and accessible for years to come.
Disaster Response
We're on hand when disaster strikes, giving textiles and historic objects the best chance of survival. Our team took part in the high-profile recovery of the Onslow State Bed at Clandon Park, following the catastrophic fire there.
Large-scale disasters are thankfully rare, but a swift response makes all the difference. We assess damaged textiles, help with insurance claims, and provide condition reports and treatment proposals, drawing on our experience with water, fire and pest damage.
On a smaller scale, but just as important to us, we're also here to help rescue individual items of sentimental value after accidental damage.Education and Training
We offer a range of training, workshops and lectures for museums, heritage organisations, students and professional conservators, covering general textile conservation, specialised topics like costume mounting, and bespoke sessions on request.
Our professional workshops delve into more advanced techniques, such as adhesive treatments and specialist mounting, and we're happy to travel, past sessions have taken us to France, Switzerland and Australia.
We also regularly host student placements, including with the Universities of Brighton, Lincoln and Glasgow, and for several years co-ran a summer project at Houses of Parliament Portcullis House giving conservation students hands-on experience.
Conservation of William Cowper’s Counterpane for Cowper & Newton Museum, Olney
Views of a recent conservation workshop hosted at the ZTC studio, Brighton
Conservation, mounting and framing of four Royal Thames Yacht Club flags for 250th Anniversary Celebrations
‘Dream Revealed’ tapestry, Tadek Beutlich: On and Off the Loom exhibition, Ditchling Museum of Craft
Costume mounting for Lee Miller: Dressed exhibition at Brighton Museum
Re-hanging part of Pae White’s, ‘Pomona’ jacquard weave tapestry at Bloomberg London
Conservation and mounting of motorcycle outfits for the Manx Museum’s Isle of Man TT Gallery
Conservation of a Merchant Taylors' Funeral Pall with intricate embroidery and fringed edges
Conservation of the Royal Museums Greenwich Battle of Solebay tapestry, English, early 17th century.
Wet cleaning a 19th century, printed cotton Bien Dorm robe for Worthing Museum & Gallery
Teaching a trainee conservator how to lay down a support over a fragile embroidery
Fragment of a painted 1909 airship skin conserved and mounted for the Royal Aeronautical Society
Egyptian Tunic from West Berkshire Museum
Undertaking visual analysis of damage to a late 19th century smoking jacket from Manchester Museums
Conservation of linen transparencies for the Georgian Illuminations exhibition, Sir John Soane Museum, London
Biography
Zenzie Tinker ACR
Zenzie has 40 years' experience in textile conservation. She trained under Ksynia Marko, followed by the Museum Association's Certificate in Textile Conservation, then worked as a conservator at the Museum of London and senior conservator at the V&A before setting up Zenzie Tinker Conservation in Brighton in 2003.
She served as an Icon accreditation assessor for ten years, was conservation advisor to NADFAS's Heritage Volunteer Committee, and is currently advisor to the Royal Courts of Justice Legal Dress Collection. She has researched, taught and published widely on many aspects of textile conservation.
Client Testimonials
Zenzie’s practical and common-sense approach, her breadth of experience and ability to interpret analytical information means that she is able to evaluate appropriate treatment options and thus manage her teams, and her clients, expectations.
Ksynia Marko ACR
Textile Conservation Advisor for the National Trust (retired 2019)
Zenzie and her team worked exceptionally hard to complete conservation treatment of our Solebay tapestry for the opening of a major Queen’s House exhibition in 2023. This huge, complex project was delivered over several years, supported by a crowdfunding campaign. Their skill, knowledge and professionalism shone throughout. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work, commitment and dedication, which helped bring this important project to a successful and celebrated conclusion for all involved.
Nicola Yates ACR (Emeritus)
Textile Conservation Manager, The Royal Museums, Greenwich (retired 2026)
We looked to Zenzie Tinker Conservation for the conservation and redisplay of our two late 15th and early 16th century embroidered funeral palls. Zenzie and her team showed a great depth of knowledge, skill and experience and exceptional project management. We felt confident and listened to throughout the project, and ZTC delivered results with exceptional quality – adapting to any hurdles were threw their way! I have every confidence in recommending Zenzie Tinker Conservation.
Ellie Glasser
Company Curator at The Merchant Taylors’ Company