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I had taken an early C.19th sampler to a framing gallery for a much needed new frame. The framers were somewhat worried by what they found within, and suggested I had a bit of restoration work done first. I was told that upon research perhaps I should take it to the Norfolk Museums service for them to have a look. I got in touch with Deborah Phipps and her conservation colleagues, and never looked back. The work on the sampler has been undertaken with consummate professionalism, I now have an item properly conserved, in all the correct ways, and sensitively restored so that it does not look brand new either! I have complete confidence in all the efforts made, and feel that I have given that sampler a continued long life of several more centuries. It has been a wholly positive exercise, and doubtless I shall be returning with other items in need of rescue, furthermore I have now discovered that work on all manner of objects can be undertaken by other colleagues within the organisation.

Alex Judson

As part of our preparation for setting up an Icon and Heritage gallery we considered having a Dalmatic Vestment in Violet silk velvet, cleaned and conserved in order to have it mounted as part of the display. We approached the Conservation and Design team, Norfolk Museums Service. The vestment is now on display in our Gallery, mounted on a mannequin by Deborah Phipps who carried out the cleaning and conservation of the garment. We are delighted with the result, and for the careful mounting of the garment in the display case by Deborah and recommend the team wholeheartedly and with thanks.

Sylvia Batchelor

Volunteer Museum manager, St Seraphim’s icon and heritage Gallery

A huge thank you to everyone involved with the recent conservation and framing of the World War One tablecloth from Harleston. It looked magnificent on its display stand.  I have already had two exhibitions with it and everyone has commented on how splendid it looks and in particular how professional the conservation work was done. I would really like a special mention to Alice Forkes who has been brilliant and she deserves praise for the work she carried out on the tablecloth.

Terry Pegg

Harleston & District Branch Royal British Legion

Part of Northampton Museum’s expansion project includes an exciting new shoe gallery, showcasing the museum’s internationally important shoe collection. The review flagged Queen Victoria’s wedding shoes as the prime candidate for conservation plus a pair of concealed shoes, the latter requiring ethical considerations. NMS Conservation & Design Services came highly recommended to us. The window of opportunity to carry the work out was very short but communication was concise and prompt, the details in the written estimate accurate and clear, ethical considerations were adhered to and the work was carried out to a very high standard. We would definitely consider them for future work and recommend them to others.

Rebecca Shawcross

Senior Shoe Curator, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

Having identified the expertise of the conservators at Norwich museum, particularly regarding feathers in my case, I contacted Conservation & Design Services to discuss my project.

I had acquired a nineteenth century Native American headdress, which I wanted cleaning and conserving.  From the first meeting onwards, I felt completely at ease with the team at Norwich and confident that they would do a great job for me.  Having visited to see work in progress I was delighted to see a transformation begin and even more delighted with the end result – it looks fantastic! The conservation report, together with research on the materials used in the construction of the headdress completed the picture.  Thoroughly professional, really nice people to deal with and highly recommended.

Alan Atkinson

NMS Conservation & Design Services came highly recommended to us. Due to the excellent service received I could now commend their highly professional and efficient service to any organisation requiring dedicated support or advice with identifying, and addressing, collection management and conservation needs. Our brief was consistently understood throughout the process, resulting in a clear appraisal with considered and costed options for future development.

James Steward

Director, The History of Advertising Trust

With the help of Conservation and Design Services we have undertaken a major review and storage rationalisation project relating to our collection of works on paper. From the initial site visit and action plan, to the technical services we received in order to stabilise, relocate, and safely store many vulnerable items in our collection, we have been delighted with the highly efficient and professional service provided and look forward to working with Conservation and Design Services again in the future.

Dr Peter Moore

Research Curator, Gainsborough’s House

My large ceramic pot of sentimental value suffered an accident. I was devastated. However, from the first email contact I had with the Conservation and Design Services until the final moment when a member of staff carried the pot back to my car I have nothing but praise and thanks. The end result is outstanding. Replies to emails were prompt, the details in the written estimate accurate and clear and the work was carried out quickly.

M.Watkins

To my untutored eye the work done on conserving my C18th oriental cup is exemplary and I am delighted with it. I had been unaware of this service provided by Conservation & Design services (part of Norfolk Museums Service) and should I need similar assistance I shall return to them.

Mary E Gibson

Design services were asked to take a silicon mould of a medieval seal and from the start the service was very professional and friendly. The mould is of very high quality enabling nickel replicas to be made from it. The project was finished early and the item returned to us promptly with the team following up to check that all was to our satisfaction. Overall the conservation team were excellent and I would not hesitate to use them for any future projects.

Tina Cunnell

Thetford Town Council

I inherited two family miniatures in leather bound cases which were in poor condition. Conservation & Design services cleaned both images, and made a bespoke archival case to hold the original case in such a way that the ivory will be able to adjust to ambient conditions with little risk of further damage. A first class result, from an excellent studio.

Arthur Lucas

Wymondham

A C19th portrait miniature held in the Wymondham parish archives was treated by the Conservation and Design Services in 2014/15. The conservators retouched the small paint losses, cleaned and secured all elements of the frame in such a way that they can easily be removed in future if necessary, and provided a bespoke storage box with an integral lift-out tray, both protecting the item and allowing it to be viewed with minimal handling. A detailed report of how the work was carried out and of materials used was provided. An excellent and skilled job.

Paula Lucas

Honorary Archivist, Wymondham Abbey Church

Conservation & Design services worked on conserving a range of archaeological ceramics for us as well as a section of mosaic style pavement that we excavated from a site in the Republic of Benin, West Africa.

Conservation & Design services were great to work with. They were highly knowledgeable and exceptionally good at dealing with us and the students we brought along to observe the conservation process. In particular Conservation & Design services consistently kept us up to speed on the work, including with photographic documentation of the various stages of the work, and were always happy to answer questions and modify the work as per our needs.

The final product was exactly what we wanted and was a hugely important element of the Crossroads of Empires Exhibition – many of the visitors commented on these pieces and in particular the section of mosaic pavement was a highlight of the exhibition.

Prof Anne Haour

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art

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