Eton Action Fair
The Eton College Collections team had a lovely day in the sunshine at the Eton Action Fair. Lots of children made themselves gold medals and over 600 visitors took the opportunity to view the Sport exhibition and the permanent display in the Museum of Eton Life.
Cataloguing Milestone
The College Archives has completed cataloguing a large collection of records that tells the story of the Chalcots Estate. This includes the former property of St James’ Hospital, given to Eton in 1449, the Royal Grant for which we hold.
New Conservation Studio
For the first time ever, the collections care team has a dedicated conservation studio. This will allow us to quarantine, clean, analyse and conserve the items in our care far more effectively. It will also enable more specialised treatments to be undertaken in-house, as well as providing a dedicated space for the Collections staff to work alongside external conservators to look after our diverse collections.
Watts and Rossetti Return
The paintings ‘Hist’ Said Kate the Queen (FDA-P.101-2010) by D.G. Rossetti and Sir Galahad by G.F. Watts (FDA-P.162-2010) have returned to Eton College, following the exhibition Preraffaeliti (Pre-Raphaelites) at the Museo Civico San Domenico Forlì in Italy.
New Photography and Research
300 catalogued Collections items and further uncatalogued items relevant to the Collections have been cleared to make way for refurbishment works in the Provost’s Lodge. As paintings normally hung high came down to be packed and removed, it was possible to commission professional photography of many works for the first time. Moving the paintings also allowed us to investigate the backs of the works, which revealed new information.
Clock Conservation
While work is carried out to renovate the Provost’s Lodge we have taken the opportunity to have the Hubert longcase clock (FDA-A.23-2010) conserved. This beautiful 18th-century clock had seen some damage to the decorative lacquer covering, and this has been repaired with gold inlay and lacquer losses infilled.
