The Wallace Collection

At that time it was not conservators but 'craftsmen' who were employed to look after the Collection; Nielsen was followed in 1924 by Frank Feser, another cabinet-maker, and Jack Beagley. Jack Beagley was employed initially as a furniture repairer but moved up through the ranks to become first a 'craftsman' and then 'master-craftsman', until in 1957 his title was changed to Conservation Officer, as it was felt that the role performed by the members of the Conservation Department was no longer that of 'repairers'.

At this time specialist courses were becoming available in the conservation of artifacts, and the profession of Conservator was born. Today the Furniture section of the Department is run by Senior Conservator Jürgen Huber. There is also a conservation technician, Stephen Craig, who supports the work of the Conservation Department in general. The Furniture section of the Conservation Department is responsible for both preventative and more interventionist conservation of furniture, clocks and related objects, including some sculpture and decorative wares. Also covered are decorated wooden surfaces such as gun or cross-bow-stocks, wooden sculpture, picture frames and related artifacts.

Besides furniture, the Wallace Collection also has some forty clocks, of which approximately twenty are kept running. Whilst running, these clocks are under constant observation. Preventative conservation measures such as controlled humidity, temperature and light levels within the galleries, are essential in helping to ensure that the Collection's furniture is kept in optimum conditions and thus available for future generations to enjoy.