Location
Glasgow
Date
2017
Type
Architectural – museum decant
Nature of work
Recording, dismantling, packing and transport of historic timber structures; temporary protection of stone artefacts in situ
Role
Subcontractor – conservator
Client
Glasgow Museums
Project partners
Cliveden Conservation
Context and aim
During the refurbishment of the Burrell Collection, we worked as conservators alongside Cliveden Conservation to decant the museum’s historic timber structures. These included architectural elements of exceptional significance, such as the Bridgewater Ceiling, the Oatlands fire surround and a series of Gothic pews, each with its own construction, fixings and vulnerabilities.
Every structure was recorded and its components numbered before being carefully dismantled, checked for condition, packed and transported for safe storage throughout the works. Where stone artefacts had to remain in situ, such as the Warwick Vase, we designed and built temporary protection around them, so that they were safeguarded from the building works taking place around them.
Gallery
The structures
Some of the historic timber structures in the decant.
Photo: the Oatlands fire surround
Photo: the Bridgewater Ceiling
During the works
Recording, dismantling, packing and transport, and temporary protection for objects left in place.
Video: time-lapse of the Bridgewater Ceiling being dismantled
Video: time-lapse of the temporary protection being built around the Warwick Vase
Photo: linenfold panelling partly dismantled, with its supporting framework exposed
Photo: ceiling structure exposed and protected during dismantling
Photo: carved bosses numbered, labelled and laid in acid-free tissue
Photo: components wrapped in foam and stored upright in a crate
Photo: Gothic pew secured on a padded transport frame
Photo: pew wrapped in protective sheeting ready for transport
Photo: temporary protective enclosure built around a doorway, with access panels
Photo: temporary enclosure protecting a stone artefact left in situ
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