The Leather Conservation Centre completes move to new studios in Leicester
- Move to new bespoke premises made possible with support from The Leathersellers’ Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Founded in 1978 it is the main institution for leather conservation worldwide, conserving objects from both public and private clients.
- A new public education programme will offer hands-on experience of leather through workshops and talks, as well as the opportunity to learn more about its history and care.
The Leather Conservation Centre (LCC) has now moved to bespoke studios at Canopy in Leicester, following support from the Leathersellers’ Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Made up of a small team of specialists who work at the meeting point of art and science, the LCC is a one-of-a-kind British organisation and the main institution for leather conservation worldwide.
The work of the LCC (founded 1978) has touched upon and helped preserve a significant amount of important national heritage and deals with a range of private and public clients, taking in many valuable and rare objects with fascinating back stories. From individuals who want to conserve rare books or furniture to major museums and organisations like the National Trust and Historic Royal Palaces.
Stories from private clients include the restoration of an Eames chair, a damaged heirloom writing case, a Cartier necessaire dating back to the 1920s, a crocodile vanity case, the interiors of a vintage Daimler and a Ron Arad sofa. Public client stories include working for museums to repair the leather interiors of rare early automobiles to working in situ for the National Trust on beautiful gilt leather wallpaper or conserving a 1543 first edition of Vesalius for The Royal College of Surgeons.
Rosie Bolton, Head of Centre (left) with Phoebe Ignatia
Objects and Textiles Conservator
More contemporary leather items are also conserved from three Omersa Elephants conserved for a private client to a leather dress by artist Susie Macmurray conserved for Manchester Museum and Art Gallery and Adidas K. Abdul Jabbar trainers for the Design Museum.
Modern items require completely different conservation techniques and leather conservators are constantly learning new skills in response. In this way the LCC ensures not only the survival of rare physical objects but also skills identified by Heritage Crafts as endangered in the UK.
Leather conservation only became a specialism in its own right in approximately the 1980s, having previously been considered part of textile conservation. Today, The Leather Conservation Centre works alongside an extensive network of collaborators, from indigenous knowledge keepers to key leather industry figures to facilitate a holistic approach to conservation.
The new Leather Conservation Centre will offer hands-on experience of leather through workshops and talks, as well as the opportunity to learn more about its history and care.
Rosie Bolton, Head of Conservation, Leather Conservation Centre says: “One of the workshops we will be running is on ‘Caring for your Heirlooms’, something we are often asked about. Polishing or feeding leather is a huge misnomer when looking after historic objects, as adding excess fats can be quite harmful to historic objects.”
The move to new premises has been made possible with grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Leathersellers’ Foundation. The new bespoke space will allow the LCC to take on more projects nationally and internationally as well as offering a public education programme.
Martin Dove, Master (Chair) of the Leathersellers says: “What makes the Leather Conservation Centre so special, and why the Leathersellers are committed long-term partners, is that their expertise helps to underpin the preservation and protection of leather, a key part of our national heritage. Without the skills of the conservators working at The Leather Conservation Centre, there would be a danger of losing parts of a shared material history – a story that due to the accessibility, durability and versatility of leather continues to be told by people from all different parts of society. The Leather Conservation Centre works with museums, heritage organisations, and individual clients to inspire a new generation to see leather and the skills of leather artisans as a vital component not only of our past and present, but also to inspire future design and use in fashion as an enduring material.”
The glass fronted studio of the Leather Conservation Centre at Canopy in Leicester
Photography by Paul Read
READ MORE
Dream Maker
In her sleep, Frances Pinnock finds inspiration for her figurative leather sculptures.
Leathersellers’ Scholarships at Colfe's School
Celebrating the long-term success of the Leathersellers’ Scholarships at Colfe’s School.
Fashioning History
For an inspired project at Leicester’s De Montfort University, students of “Artifacts Live” are drawing on the lessons of historic leathercraft to create the designs of the future.