Conservation of the Congress of Vienna Chairs, Mount Stewart
As Project Manager, I led the conservation of 22 historic chairs gifted to Robert Stewart, 2nd Marquess of Londonderry, following the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815). These diplomatic gifts are of exceptional international significance, reflecting the cultural and political history of early 19th-century Europe.
My role encompassed strategic planning, procurement, and management of specialist conservators for multiple elements of the project, including textile and gilded furniture conservation. To enhance public engagement, I coordinated conservation work within the Mount Stewart studio, enabling visitors to observe the processes firsthand. Textile conservation, undertaken off-site, was documented through time-lapse photography, which was displayed in the studio alongside live furniture conservation, offering a unique behind-the-scenes experience.
This project not only preserved items of global historic importance but also highlighted their cultural value to a wide audience, combining technical excellence with innovative interpretation.
