Conservation of a nineteenth-century set design by Clarkson Stanfield

Abstract

Summary The acquisition of the Bagshawe Collection by the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in 2000, comprising 80 newly discovered working designs and model pieces provides an important insight into the working methods of Clarkson Stanfield during his time in the Theatres Royal, Drury Lane and Covent Garden scene rooms. The mixed-media backdrop design of Handel's Acis and Galatea demonstrates a very modern approach in the use of materials and the immediacy of their depiction. The conservation required collaboration from many departments within the museum and enabled a new use of isinglass butterfly stitches to be developed. The eventual storage solution of individually shaped Plastazote® foam trays provided support for the many fragile pieces. These trays were then enclosed in acid-free corrugated board boxes that allowed for the stabilizing of environmental conditions.