'Conserve & Care'
The Leather Conservation Centre
Ref: IIP1506
Title: Conservation of Leather [and Collections Care]
12 months Internship
Location: The Leather Conservation Centre [and The International
Museum of Leathercraft] Northampton, UK
Supervisor: Yvette Fletcher, ACR
Bursary: £16,000pa
This internship offered at The Leather Conservation Centre, with one day per week also based at
the International Museum of Leathercraft (IMOLC) (1 day per week).
The Leather Conservation Centre is a major international centre for leather conservation, education
and research. It offers a comprehensive service in the conservation and restoration of leather
objects of historic, cultural and artistic importance for national and local museums, historic houses,
libraries and private clients.
The International museum of Leathercraft (IMOLC) is one of the finest collections of historic and
contemporary items made of leather in the world. It is a collection that richly illustrates how
important leather has been in society across the world over a millennium and, in particular, over the
last five hundred years.
The placement offers an opportunity to work on a wide range of historic objects made wholly or
partly of leather and its related materials. You will be involved in all aspects of conservation,
including, condition assessments and conservation proposals as well as practical treatments. The
Centre receives a wide variety of objects for treatment ranging from small personal items to historic
car interiors and rooms lined with gilt leather and the intern will assist with conservation of many of
the projects which come into the Centre during the internship, gradually developing skills and
knowledge. As part of a small team you will be expected to carry out a wide range of duties and will
be fully involved in the work of the Centre.
The time spent working with the IMOLC collection will develop experience in collections care
including condition reports for individual items and groups of objects, prioritising conservation
options, environmental monitoring, packaging and mounting for both storage and display.
Specific training and work based activities for this internship will be:
 A range of conservation treatments from preventive conservation to more interventive
treatments
 Leather chemistry and historic technology
 Understanding of leather and its deterioration
 Collections care
Version Jan 2015
'Conserve & Care'
The Leather Conservation Centre
Applicant requirements:
This internship is suitable to applicants with a recognised conservation qualification. Candidates
need to be enthusiastic with excellent manuals skills. Leather objects usually also involve other
materials such as wood, metal or textile. Therefore, some experience of working with mixed media
objects is desirable.
Please apply using the application form on the Icon website only.
Closing date: 06 December 2015
Interviews will be held on: 18 December 2015
Internship will commence: 11 January 2016
Version Jan 2015