Student’s Stories

Student’s share how they came to CU conservation and their experiences here

Object Handling

Posted on 22 March 2021 by natalielongworth

Working in conservation, we have a duty to look after objects that have been entrusted to us. Each time we handle objects, the risk that we could damage them increases. Often, damage can be caused by cumulative actions and can happen suddenly without any warning. It is vital that we minimize the risks by handling
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Evolution of British Pottery Marks

Posted on 19 March 2021 by tszcheung

Pottery marks are a dependable means by which the manufacturers, origins, production dates and so many details of the ceramics may be identified. Often, the marks include factory names or trademarks, the signatures of painters, potters or gilders and precise descriptive notes, generally set under the base of the piece. Although these pottery marks can
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Stakeholders – Who Are They?

Posted on 22 January 2021 by niamhgrady

In heritage conservation, each object has its own stakeholders who could be affected by the outcomes of any conservation treatment that is carried out on that particular object. At Cardiff University, we are encouraged to consult with an objects stakeholders in order to access the best possible outcomes. The result being that they can provide
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Conservation and Developing Living History Impressions

Posted on 16 January 2021 by eleanordurrant

February 2020 found me with my eyes glued to the medieval ‘Palermo garments’ in the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s online collection, admiring the photos of intricate stitching and wonderfully preserved silks. At this point I had been a medieval re-enactor for around six years, travelling around the UK to take part in living history displays for the
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Conservation Practice: Applying from the U.S.

Posted on 6 January 2020 by Greta Sweeney

Applying for postgraduate programs can be tough, but applying from another country 3000 miles away can make it even harder! If you’re interested in Cardiff’s Conservation Practice MSc program but are feeling overwhelmed by the application process, fret not! I was in the same position this time last year and was so confused about applications
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Pathways to Conservation

Posted on 29 October 2019 by Caitlin Jenkins

It’s a rumour that we all found our calling as conservators from an early age, fuelled by a desire to disobey those DO NOT TOUCH signs in museums. At Cardiff University, our students’ paths into the heritage sector are as unique and diverse as the objects we study. In this blog, six students share their
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From Archaeological Trenches to Conservation Laboratories

Posted on 4 May 2018 by Rafail Evzonas

I still remember the moment last September when I shook the dust off my clothes in a trench for last time, somewhere in eastern Mediterranean, and packed my suitcases. A journey was begun, this time in a new world: the world of Conservation. Archaeology was my passion. For this reason, I studied Archaeology and took
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From Canada to Cardiff – My Path to Conservation

Posted on 17 October 2017 by Alyssa Singh

Before I graduated from high school my dad told me I should study what I’m passionate about, because it meant I would succeed. I took his advice and double majored in Honours History and Religion, with a minor in Art History, but halfway through my undergraduate degree at Carleton University, I still had no idea
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Out of the Lab and Into the Woods

Posted on 3 March 2017 by Stephanie Whitehead

While the conservation department focuses heavily on our artifacts and the projects that we work on on a daily basis, we also make time to get out of the lab. Every so often the department organizes a hike to get us away from our swabs and scalpels and into the stunning Welsh countryside. Our last
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