Revealing Forgotten Stories through Conservation: Secrets of the National Trust Collection

The National Trust cares for over 500 historic places, many of which have been central to defining moments in history. Yet, beyond the famous places and historical figures that remain touchstones of our cultural legacy, the Trust also cares for a vast collection of over one million objects. As the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio has become a pioneering hub for the preservation of the NT’s collection, it is no surprise that conservators have made new discoveries about NT objects through close observation and technical study. Conservation projects span a remarkable range—from some of the Trust’s smallest yet most iconic treasures, like the plate of ham featured in Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Two Bad Mice, to large-scale, multi-disciplinary undertakings such as the restoration of the upholstered Dolphin Chairs from Ham House. These efforts have not only preserved but also identified and revealed original surfaces and colours once thought lost. Our conservators’ work continues to deepen understanding of art history, revealing everything from previously unnoticed alterations in Jacob Tintoretto’s The Wise and Foolish Virgins, c.1546, at Upton House to fresh evidence of Claude Monet’s working methods in Charing Cross Bridge (1902) at Chartwell. In her in-person NYC lecture, Emma S. will update ROF members and friends and speak about new and upcoming conservation projects at the ROF Studio. She will also describe some of the hidden stories uncovered by conservators that have added new layers of significance and interest to objects in the NT’s collection.