Refurbishment of the V&A's Science Laboratory
Lead Research Organisation:
Victoria and Albert Museum
Department Name: Conservation
Abstract
This project focuses on a comprehensive refurbishment of the specialist Conservation Science Laboratory at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Its aim is to transform the current 25-year-old facility, which is no longer fit for purpose, into a cutting edge, multidisciplinary, flexible space which is efficient, sustainable and a catalyst for research excellence and innovation in collections care. The Lab requires urgent modifications to reflect advances in Conservation Science, the V&A's changing needs and priorities, emergent areas of specialism, as well as ever-growing capacity needs.
The proposed upgrade comprises a refurbishment of the Lab space and an upgrade of our end-of-life, inefficient, and inadequate equipment (including introduction to the V&A of equipment which until now was only accessed off-site). This major transformation of the Science Lab will:
a. tackle current inefficiencies caused by obsolete equipment and rigid, outdated space arrangements
b. increase the capabilities of the Science Lab and expand the scope of its current research and collections care, across all V&A sites and UK-wide
c. augment our ability to assist regional and national institutions in the care and investigation of their own collections
d. foster enhanced access to V&A collections for researchers, students, practitioners and artists
e. improve our educational and training offering, facilitate new, cutting-edge research and foster innovation
f. increase capacity to bid for external research funding
g. provide a setting for the incubation of new ideas, the trigger for new creative processes and the exploration of novel materials by artists, makers, scientists and practitioners.
This upgrade will be of major significance to the heritage sector and to Heritage Science research in the UK and internationally. In expanding the scale and scope of Heritage Science provision at the V&A, it will lay the foundations for the establishment of a world-leading Heritage Science infrastructure at the Museum.
The proposed upgrade comprises a refurbishment of the Lab space and an upgrade of our end-of-life, inefficient, and inadequate equipment (including introduction to the V&A of equipment which until now was only accessed off-site). This major transformation of the Science Lab will:
a. tackle current inefficiencies caused by obsolete equipment and rigid, outdated space arrangements
b. increase the capabilities of the Science Lab and expand the scope of its current research and collections care, across all V&A sites and UK-wide
c. augment our ability to assist regional and national institutions in the care and investigation of their own collections
d. foster enhanced access to V&A collections for researchers, students, practitioners and artists
e. improve our educational and training offering, facilitate new, cutting-edge research and foster innovation
f. increase capacity to bid for external research funding
g. provide a setting for the incubation of new ideas, the trigger for new creative processes and the exploration of novel materials by artists, makers, scientists and practitioners.
This upgrade will be of major significance to the heritage sector and to Heritage Science research in the UK and internationally. In expanding the scale and scope of Heritage Science provision at the V&A, it will lay the foundations for the establishment of a world-leading Heritage Science infrastructure at the Museum.
Organisations
- Victoria and Albert Museum (Lead Research Organisation)
- ROYAL HOSPITAL CHELSEA (Collaboration)
- Natural History Museum (Collaboration)
- Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) (Collaboration)
- The Royal Collection Trust (Collaboration)
- Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) (Collaboration)
- British Museum (Collaboration)
- London Borough Of Newham (Collaboration)
- Church of England (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- Nottingham Trent University (Collaboration)
- Louvre (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- The National Archives (Collaboration)
- RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Pedro Gaspar (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Burgio L
(2024)
Mopa Mopa and Barniz de Pasto at the Victoria and Albert Museum: Recent Developments
in Heritage
Burgio L
(2024)
Bismuth White (Bismuth Oxychloride) and Its Use in Portrait Miniatures Painted by George Engleheart
in Minerals
Burgio L
(2025)
Lacquer in the Americas: Building Bridges
in Heritage
Geminiani L
(2024)
A Recently Identified Barniz Brillante Casket at Bateman's, the Home of Rudyard Kipling
in Heritage
Razzell Hollis J
(2024)
The use of vibrational spectroscopy and supervised machine learning for chemical identification of plastics ingested by seabirds
in Journal of Hazardous Materials
Risdonne V
(2024)
Mexican Lacquer at the Victoria and Albert Museum: Analysis of Three Bateas
in Heritage
Risdonne V
(2023)
Scientific investigation of the Minsterley Maidens' crowns
in The European Physical Journal Plus
| Description | • Significantly upgraded and expanded analytical capacity. • Increased volume of research opportunities and collaborations: the new infrastructure makes the V&A an even more desirable place to come to work • Intensified contacts and discussions with other institutions to see how best we can pool together our resources and expertise for the benefit of our respective collections and the sector at large. • Expansion of non-invasive, non-destructive analytical capacity (better for collections) • Increased professional development and training opportunities for staff, students and early career researchers (both from the V&A and visiting from other institutions) • Increased access to the V&A collections |
| Exploitation Route | • New research opportunities and collaborations. • A new programme of visiting scholars is being developed. • Increased professional development and training opportunities for staff, students and researchers at the V&A. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| Description | Research activities are being developed with an outreach plan to engage wider V&A audiences (particularly schools). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Description | Experimentation and Placemaking: connecting communities with the technological and innovation histories of London's early porcelain manufacturers |
| Amount | £35,552 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/X003345/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | PERCEIVE |
| Amount | £170,206 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EU grant agreement 101061157, UKRI project 10065047 |
| Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 01/2026 |
| Description | Analysis of 17th century mirror case (PERCEIVE) |
| Organisation | Royal Hospital Chelsea |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of 17th century mirror case |
| Collaborator Contribution | Analysis of 17th century mirror case |
| Impact | Analysis contributed dataset for further research in PERCEIVE project |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | V&A / Church of England |
| Organisation | Church of England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Study of Minsterley virgin crowns. The V&A provided access to equipment and expertise for the characterisation of rare 18th century virgin crowns from a Minsterley church in Shropshire. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to collections |
| Impact | Paper submitted for publication |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Courtauld Institute / UCL |
| Organisation | Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of the portrait of Francis Williams. The V&A provides access to its collection, scientific equipment in the science laboratory, and access to curatorial expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Curatorial and scientific expertise |
| Impact | Peer reviewed paper accepted but not officially published yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Courtauld Institute / UCL |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of the portrait of Francis Williams. The V&A provides access to its collection, scientific equipment in the science laboratory, and access to curatorial expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Curatorial and scientific expertise |
| Impact | Peer reviewed paper accepted but not officially published yet. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (Yale University) |
| Organisation | Yale University |
| Department | Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Using the V&A's expertise in the technical examination of museum objects and the new equipment available in the science lab, we undertook the imaging and analysis of early photographs by William Talbot from the V&A collection in order to contribute to a catalogue raisonne of Talbot's work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Yale IPCH brought portable equipment to the V&A in order to make a direct comparison with the results they obtained from similar objects in other North American collections. |
| Impact | Enriched entries in the V&A records; database of scientific results to be made available on request; peer-reviewed publication in preparation; blog entries in preparation. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (Yale University) |
| Organisation | Yale University |
| Department | Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Using the V&A's expertise in the analysis of manuscripts, experience with the characterisation of pigment, dyes and artists' materials, and the new equipment available in the Science lab, we undertook the analysis of Jain manuscripts from V&A in order to compare them to those in North American collections already analysed by the partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Yale IPCH have pooled the data from their analysis of North American collections. |
| Impact | Enriched entries in the V&A records; database of scientific results to be made available on request; peer-reviewed publication in preparation; blog entries and permanent internet page on V&A website in preparation. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Italian Institute of Technology |
| Organisation | Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of corroded glass and experimentation of novel conservation treatments based on nanotechnology. The V&A provided access to collections and curatorial and scientific equipment and expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to scientific technology and expertise. |
| Impact | Blog entry: https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/caring-for-our-collections/studying-and-preserving-ancient-glass; Publication submitted |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Natural History Museum |
| Organisation | Natural History Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Identification and characterisation of plastics from dead bird stomachs. The V&A provided access to scientific equipment as well as its reference collection of plastics and polymers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NHM collections and scientific expertise |
| Impact | Publications to be developed by the NHM team |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Nottingham Trent University / The British Museum |
| Organisation | British Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | CDP for the study of Asian and European enamels. The V&A team is co-supervising the PhD student, providing access to scientific equipment, and curatorial and conservation expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of PhD student and access to collections and scientific equipment and expertise. |
| Impact | PhD studenship |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / Nottingham Trent University / The British Museum |
| Organisation | Nottingham Trent University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | CDP for the study of Asian and European enamels. The V&A team is co-supervising the PhD student, providing access to scientific equipment, and curatorial and conservation expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of PhD student and access to collections and scientific equipment and expertise. |
| Impact | PhD studenship |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / RIBA |
| Organisation | RIBA - Royal Institute of British Architects |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Investigation on the nature of artists' materials of 6 Palladio drawings. The V&A provided access to scientific expertise and laboratory equipment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to RIBA collections and curatorial expertise. |
| Impact | Publication to be prepared. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / The Ashmolean Museum/ Newham Archives |
| Organisation | London Borough Of Newham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The V&A provided access to equipment, collections, and expertise in the lab and in the curatorial departments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research into early English porcelain, and dissemination and outreach activities. Partners provided access to collections and local community groups in Newham borough. |
| Impact | One peer-reviewed publication (see above) and 5 web resources (blog posts) |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / The Ashmolean Museum/ Newham Archives |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Ashmolean Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The V&A provided access to equipment, collections, and expertise in the lab and in the curatorial departments |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research into early English porcelain, and dissemination and outreach activities. Partners provided access to collections and local community groups in Newham borough. |
| Impact | One peer-reviewed publication (see above) and 5 web resources (blog posts) |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / The Louvre / C2RMF |
| Organisation | Louvre |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Investigation of Italian Renaissance terracotta sculptures. The V&A has provided access to its collections, scientific equipment and expertise (conservation, scientific, and curatorial) |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to specialist materials databases, scientific equipment and expertise |
| Impact | Publications to be submitted |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | V&A / The National Archives |
| Organisation | The National Archives |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The V&A provided access to equipment and expertise in the lab and in the curatorial departments, trained one of the TNA staff in the use of digital microscopes for the investigation of early 19th century textiles, as part of the UKRI/AHRC grant #AH/W011573/1. The V&A also facilitated access to objects in the collections |
| Collaborator Contribution | TNA used their portable equipment to investigate comparable V&A objects, and facilitated the exchange of data. |
| Impact | Enriched entries in the V&A records; database of scientific results to be made available on request; peer-reviewed publication in preparation. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / The Royal Collection Trust |
| Organisation | The Royal Collection Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The V&A provided access to equipment and expertise in the lab and in the curatorial departments to investigate the manufacturing technique of a unique RCT Moghul sword. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The RCT staff provided expertise and insight for the comparison of their sword with items in the V&A collections. |
| Impact | Results will be used in an exhibition catalogue, a peer-reviewed paper will be prepared and public dissemination output will also be generated |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | V&A / UCL |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | PhD project for the analysis of Roman glass provenance and technology. The V&A team is co-supervising the PhD student and providing access to collections, scientific equipment and curatorial and conservation expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of PhD and access to scientific equipment and expertise. |
| Impact | PhD studentship |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Access to SEM-EDX, Studio Practice - MSc CoCAM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Access to SEM-EDX, Studio Practice equipment to UCL MSc CoCAM students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Early Career Symposium ( Courtauld) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Early Career Symposium Courtauld students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation in 'Thinking through materials' students at Imperial College - lab tour, demo and lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Participation in 'Thinking through materials' students at Imperial College - lab tour, demo and lecture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at Raman explored: unveiling the past, Natural History Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at Raman explored: unveiling the past, Natural History Museum |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation at SERCH Imperial College |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at SERCH Imperial College |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation to University of Lund |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to University of Lund |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Primary Science Teaching Trust - Lab tour and demonstration |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Primary Science Teaching Trust visit to Science lab and demonstration of equipment |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Rochester University presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Rochester University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Tour and demonstration for QMUL and Cambridge University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tour and equipment demonstration for QMUL and Cambridge University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Tour and equipment demonstration for ICON Heritage Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tour and equipment demonstration for ICON Heritage Science |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Tour for UCL Institute of Sustainable heritage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Tour of lab for UCL Institute of Sustainable heritage MSc students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | V&A Learning Academy (Art of the Baroque: Rembrandt to Wren) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | participation in V&A Learning Academy online lecture - Art of the Baroque: Rembrandt to Wren |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |