Furniture Conservator/Restorer Duties & Responsibilities
The role and function of a Furniture Conservator/Restorer includes the following duties and responsibilities:
- Liaising with clients to discuss and agree on the conservation and/or restoration of a piece of furniture;
- Sourcing materials for use in the conservation and restoration process;
- Applying preventative measures in relation to environmental, biological and human conditions, in order to protect and preserve furniture;
- Observing and assessing the state of a piece of furniture to decide on the best way to restore or conserve it;
- Taking photographs of pieces of furniture and their components and maintaining detailed records of their condition and special features before and after work is carried out;
- Communicating with the client about the sometimes complex treatment processes involved;
- Providing photographs and other records for clients when work is complete;
- Keeping up to date with research and developments in equipment and techniques;
- Working on a number of projects concurrently;
- Traveling to a variety of locations to work on pieces in situ;
- Working closely with a range of materials and equipment in precise and detailed ways during the conservation and restoration process;
- Combining specialist knowledge of furniture with practical techniques in order to prolong and protect the survival of a piece of furniture;
- Providing advice and information on conservation and restoration issues to the public.
Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Furniture Conservator/Restorer duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Furniture Conservator/Restorer roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.
