Mixed Media Conservation

The National Army Museum (NAM) wishes to appoint a conservation company or individual conservator (‘the conservator’) to conserve 56 mixed media and decorative art objects in preparation for their display in the Museum in Autumn 2016.

Expressions of Interest in this work are requested from suitably qualified experienced contractors by 14 August 2015.

To inform this tender process, the objects have had initial condition assessments and treatment recommendations. These reports give a picture of the extent of the treatment required and will be issued to the contractors invited to tender. Tenders will be made based on these assessments, their recommendations and the associated photographs of the objects themselves. Alternatively or in addition to this information the objects may be viewed in-situ at the NAM store in Stevenage, Hertfordshire by prior arrangement.

Summary of condition assessments:

➢ The NAM uses four categories to classify the condition of an object: good, fair, poor and acute. Of the 56 objects described here 11 were classed as being in good condition, 39 were thought to be fair, 5 were deemed to be poor and 1 acute;

➢ The extent of treatment thought to be required is measured by three criteria: Low, moderate and extensive. Of the 56 objects 21 were thought to require a low level of treatment, 32 a moderate level and 3 an extensive;

➢ The total time required to conserve the group of 56 objects was estimated to be 415 hours.

The conservator will be responsible for:

1.) The conservation of the objects (following discussion and approval of all treatments by the NAM);

2.) Full documentation - written report and photographs - relating to the treatment of each object (sent to the NAM on completion of the project);

3.) Packing in existing boxes / crates for return transport back to the NAM.

Due to space limitations at the museum’s store it is anticipated that the objects will be conserved off-site at the appointed conservators studio