K.A.S. Meeting: Held at the Guildhall Museum, Rochester

Mr. Michael Moad, the Curator, welcomed an enthusiastic audience to the Guildhall and began his talk by describing his own training in the conservation of arms, armour and ethnic artifacts, e.g. head masks, shields and preserved human heads!

Insisting that good conservation requires all processes to be reversible, so that later knowledge can more easily correct mistaken interpretation, Mr. Moad described many of the materials and techniques which are used in the Museum services, noting that it must be better to leave well alone unless the restorer is certain of original materials, processes and usage. He commented upon the failures of some conservation courses which concentrated upon the technology and ignored the need to develop an understanding of the meaning and use of artifacts, quoting as typical 'horror stories' the effects upon specific artifacts when enthusiastic but ignorant cleaning is undertaken.

Examples given were the alteration of preserved heads which would change their relationship to the tribe from 'friendly ancestor to malevolent foe', the removal of age patina from bronzes, the scouring of 'water ripple' patterns from edge tools, the removal of original colourful and protective finishes from suits of armour, e.g. the Henry VIII armour in the Tower, which was originally surfaced with gold edged russet and blue panels and is now a bright steel finish; bar the 'cod-piece' which still retains its original blued finish and red velvet lining because of removal during the 18th century to avoid scurrilous lampoons and ruder poetry!

Slides and actual examples of such items were available for inspection including: Japanese lacquered armour, a Javanese kris, Persian sabre, Chatham ale pots, a paper lined travelling trunk, a German morion, a Chinese leg armour of steel plates (rusty) riveted to exquisite silk embroidery, etc.

Mr. Moad was warmly thanked for his efforts.

Peter Dawson

Note: The Guildhall Museum, High St., Rochester, has recently undergone a complete refurbishment. Open to the public 10am - 5.30pm (last admission 5pm) Free of charge, seven days a week.