UKIC Gilding and Decorative Surfaces Section

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About the Section

At the Annual General Meeting of the Gilding Section in May 2001 a motion to change the name of the section to Gilding and Decorative Surfaces Section and thereby broaden its remit was passed with overwhelming support. In July the same motion was carried by 77 votes to 1 at the UKIC AGM. This move forward is seen as a timely progression building on over five years of successful section work promoting gilding conservation and making a significant contribution to our understanding of it. Expanding the remit of the section recognizes that gilding often forms only part of an overall decorative scheme and that its conservation is often tied to the overall conservation of a decorative surface. It also better reflects the practical experience of conservators and restorers whose daily experience involves the use of a wide range of surface decoration materials. It is hoped that the new remit will encourage those working in the fields of decorative finishes and historic interiors to join and contribute to broadening our understanding of conservation in these areas.

Mission Statement

The Gilding and Decorative Surfaces Section's main aim is to promote high standards in the conservation of gilded and decorative surfaces.

The Gilding and Decorative Surfaces Section also aims to:

• Provide a forum for discussion and debate.
  
  
• Bring together and inform a broad band of professionals (i.e. conservators, restorers, specialist craftsmen/women, historians and architects etc.) in both private and public practice, as well as students and interested laymen.
  
  
• Provide an ongoing program of educational events including conferences, organized visits to historic sites and places of interest, lectures and short courses etc.
  
  
• Provide information and regular contributions to the UKIC newsletter, new publications, a Web site and respond to inquiries.

The Gilding and Decorative Surfaces Section is open to all UK residents and non-UK nationals.

Committee Members

The current committee members are:

Publications

"GILDING: APPROACHES TO TREATMENT"
Edited by Jeremy Noel-Tod and Victoria Boyer
Published by James & James Ltd.
35-37 William Rd, London NW1 3ER (www.jxj.com)

Price: £30.00 (plus P&P)
Available from the UKIC Office, 109 The Chandlery, 50 Westminster Bridge Rd., London, SE1 7QY TEL: 020 7721 8721

About the Book:

"This book presents papers from the landmark conference "Gilding: Approaches to Treatment" held in September 2000, the aim of which was to achieve a greater understanding of the reasons and variations in the approaches to the treatment of gilded materials.

Not only are technical details of individual conservation projects described, but the papers also discuss the complex decision-making processes involved, covering such questions as the most appropriate materials to use and the extent of conservator intervention. Collection management issues are addressed, including the planning of conservation and care for large numbers of objects belonging to a single organization, as are the social values that can be involved when deciding upon the final appearance of conserved gilded objects.

"Gilding: Approaches to treatment" puts on record current thinking and practice from leading conservation specialists. It will lead to an increased understanding of the shared issues in gilding conservation across very different disciplines and represents a consensus regarding the ethics of gilding conservation in its many contexts. As such it will be an essential reference for conservators, curators, collection managers and other custodians of gilded objects.

The Conference "Gilding: Approaches to Treatment" was a collaborative event organized by the Gilding Section of the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (UKIC) and English Heritage."