Catalogue description Tate Gallery: Conservation: Papers

This series of records relates to conservation at the Tate Gallery and comprises:
Restoration, 1949-1962
Cleaning, 1947-1966
Environment, 1929-1933

Archive catalogue page is available via the Tate website

The Conservation Department keeps its own records of treatments which are always current and are retained permanently in the department.

Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated

The records have either been deposited in the archives via the Director's Office or had previously been transferred to Gallery Records or its predecessors.

Before 1953 the Gallery was largely dependent on commercial restorers but in 1953 the Conservation Department was set up with a Chief Restorer and an assistant. In 1964 the post of Chief Restorer became Keeper of the Conservation Department. Additional facilities have since been provided not only for the conservation of oil paintings but also for works on paper and sculpture. In 1969 a training programme for students was started under the auspices of the Department for Education and Science.