Issue 36 2023 - Journal - Page 42
Why furniture
restoration should
never be just a
knock on wood…
Meeting the people behind BAFRA, one of the UK’s most recognised bodies for antique furniture
restoration and conservation.
The British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association or simply BAFRA - is a long-established professional
organisation, whose mission is to ensure the highest
standards in antiques conservation and restoration.
Q: I see, well that’s certainly a way of looking at it, and
it honours you and your colleagues’ work. You
mention the learning dimension is important to you: is
it something each member carries out independently?
By doing so, the association meet three objectives: first,
to serve and preserve our national treasures, by partnering
up with cultural heritage institutions, who rely on
BAFRA’s code of conduct for best practice; secondly, to
offer guidance to antiques dealers, owners and private
collectors, who can count on a competent and reliable
restorer/conservator for their valuable pieces and family
heirlooms; and finally to protect the interests and
reputation of some of the most skilful and experienced
craftsmen and women in the United Kingdom.
A: I’m sure there is an element of that as all accredited
members have to maintain their own continuous
development program, but BAFRA as an association,
devolves part of its activities in fostering learning and
development for all members at all levels of experience
and accreditation. This includes workshops, seminars,
and training sessions that cover a wide range of topics related to furniture restoration and conservation designed
to help members expand their skills and knowledge, and
to stay current with the latest techniques and technologies in the field. It’s important for BAFRA as an association to have regular check-ins, and it’s also important for
the members to avoid missing opportunities to work on
some extraordinary pieces in the most effective and
considerate way.
Some of BAFRA’s members have opened their workshop
doors to uncover what BAFRA really means.
Q: Thank you for your time and for giving us a little
glimpse into your fascinating work. BAFRA is a real
authority in the sector and it’s a pleasure to meet some
of the protagonists of our cultural heritage. BAFRA
is inevitably associated with antiquities and old
traditional processes and work. Aren’t you worried that
the organisation itself can end up getting somehow
stuck in the past?
Q: It’s understandable… Do you often get any chance
to discuss with other BAFRA colleagues?
A: Yes, compatibly with everyone’s work commitments,
as we are sometimes working on site… Within BAFRA
there are knowledge sharing mechanisms in place, to ensure relevant information is available to all members and
easily accessible whenever a member requires it.
A: Not at all, in fact quite the contrary! I believe each of
us, from the life members and accredited members, down
to our youngest students, keep ‘never stop learning’ quite
high in our mind: it’s a good mantra and it applies to both
the past and the future. There are new discoveries on
materials, approaches and processes every day. Whilst
restoration is always in keeping with the original age, there
are elements of innovation and technology that we can
use to help us understand and prepare our course of
intervention.
Actually, some of the most valuable information for us
happens during some of the events and visits that the association organises. These ‘appointments in calendar’ are
generally a few times a year and they are for us the perfect
occasion to share ideas, discuss challenges and best practices, and form valuable connections with other professionals in the industry, as well as pass on to colleagues
referrals for some new projects.
But from a more philosophical perspective, BAFRA exists
because we look at the future and plan ahead! Our work,
of course, involves tracing back 'the past’, the history of a
piece, but our aim is by nature forward-looking, as
ultimately we prepare these pieces to stand the test of time
for many years to come.
Q: This sounds like the perfect teamwork. Could you
give me an example perhaps?
A: Not long ago I was contacted by a client for an initial
appraisal of a large piece. My client was keen to bring this
piece back to its original condition, after years of poor
maintenance and care and a number of repairs. The
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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