Lynne Harrison
Conservator of organic artefacts
Conservation of organic
artefacts
Department: Conservation and Scientific
Research
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8089/8252
Email: conservation @ thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Lynne Harrison is a conservator of organic
artefacts and lead conservator for paintings, with a special
interest in the conservation of Orthodox icons. Lynne undertakes
all aspects of conservation of the museum’s organic artefacts
collection including advice on preventive care, display, storage
and loan.
She is studio manager for the Egyptian organic
studio and supervises junior staff and students, participating in
training and skill-sharing activities with section colleagues.
Lynne is conservation contact for paintings,
icons, Egyptian material and Japanese lacquer, with deputy contact
duties for the department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas.
Lynne attained a BA[Hons] in Fine Art Painting
and a Postgraduate diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings
from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London [1995].
Before joining the British Museum in 2003 she
was previously employed as a freelance paintings conservator in
Cyprus and the UK.
Current British Museum projects
Research project - Establishing a methodology for the care
and conservation of the Orthodox icons collection at The British
Museum – principle researcher in project
involving curatorial, scientific and conservation input.
Research project - Corroding lead on
Japanese lacquered objects – collaborative research project
with Metals conservation.
Research project - Study and conservation
of two Indian oil paintings on paper – principle researcher in
collaborative project with WAPS conservation.
Conservation project – Egyptian storage
basement 85 decant collaborative project including condition
assessment and first aid treatment to facilitate movement of
organic objects to new storage facility.
Conservation project - 21st
Dynasty coffin – treatment to stabilise deteriorating mud
plaster and painted decorative surface.
Mediaeval Gallery refurbishment – collaborate
in the assessment and conservation of organic objects for permanent
display
Store survey – collaborate in survey of
museums reserve collection storage areas.
Previous British Museum projects
Trustees oil paintings collection -
Condition survey and treatment recommendations
Exhibition Word in to Art – led
conservation treatment of a group of contemporary Middle Eastern
paintings for display.
Japanese galleries refurbishment –
led collaborative project to assess and conserve Japanese organic
artifacts for permanent display.
Painted Egyptian shroud and Ethiopian
painting – collaborative project between paintings and
textiles conservators to conserve two painted textiles.
Ethiopian icons –conservation of the
museum’s collection for storage and display.
Qing lacquer catalogue- collaborative
work to conserve lacquered surfaces on Qing ceramic for catalogue
publication.
Stein collection – collaborative work
to conserve wooden artifacts and painted panels for display and
catalogue contribution.
External fellowships/ honorary positions/ membership of professional bodies
Accredited paintings conservator (ACR) with
the Institute of Conservation (ICON)
Member of the Institute of Conservation
(ICON)
Member of the International Institute of
Conservation (IIC)
Member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM)
Publications
L. Harrison, ‘Painted textiles and canvas paintings: a
collaborative approach to lining and mounting’, with P. Cruickshank
and H. Delaunay, The Conservator, 30 (2007)
L. Harrison, ‘Orthodox icons at the British
Museum: an approach to ethical conservation practice’, with J.
Ambers, C. Cartwright, R. Stacey, in Icon: Approaches to
research, conservation and ethical issues, [CD-ROM]. (Athens,
Benaki Museum, 2006)
L. Harrison, 'Orthodox icons at the British
Museum: an approach to ethical conservation practice,’ with J.
Ambers, C. Cartwright, R. Stacey, in S. Stassinopoulos and
A.Lambraki (eds.) Icon: Approaches to
research, conservation and ethical issues, Archaeology and
Arts Magazine (Athens, 2006), pp. 131-133
L. Harrison, 'Sacred to Secular: the care and
conservation of Orthodox icons at the British Museum’, with J.
Ambers, C. Cartwright, R. Stacey, D. Hook and C. Entwistle, in D.
Saunders, J.H. Townsend, and S. Woodcock (eds.) The Object in
Context: Crossing Conservation Boundaries (London,
International Institute of Conservation, 2006), pp. 317