Plowden & Smith

29/04/2026

First Chiswick Auctions in February, now Ardingly, the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team are bring kept busy by the antiques and militaria trade. Glad that in both cases everyone was kept safe.

One of the dealers stalling out at the two-day Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair last week was shocked to discover a Second World War shell among his possessions.

27/04/2026

Wonderful to see Heritage crafts and skills celebrated in The Times last week, it is so important that heritage skills at risk are being highlighted to safeguard buildings and collections of the future. Photography from Richard Pohle and James Glossop really helps to highlight the skill and traditions of craftspeople working in heritage conservation.

24/04/2026

Our Senior Ceramics Conservator Madeleine has been part of the Plowden & Smith team for twenty years today!

Madeleine leads our ceramics and glass conservation studio and has a wealth of expertise which extends to working on stone and enamel. From Picasso plates to Tang Dynasty terracotta she has conserved and restored countless iconic pieces. Join us in celebrating Madeleine's continued dedication to the craft of conservation.

See more of Madeleine's projects on our website: https://plowden-smith.com/restoration-conservation-services/ceramic-restoration/

10/04/2026

This year marks Bacon 400, the 400th anniversary of the death of Sir Francis Bacon. It was an honour to restore this portrait of Bacon for The Francis Bacon Society, and to see it on display in The Hall at Gray’s Inn.

Katherine Gwyn, Archivist and Records Manager for The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, and Sally Gibbins, Principal of The Francis Bacon Society, talk us through the history and enduring legacy of this portrait.

We also went behind the scenes with our paintings conservator Lily, who explains the treatment steps she took to restore this piece and mend the central tear. She carries out a technique called “facing”, which involves applying Japanese tissue with adhesive to the tear area, which acts as a protective layer. Using a heated mat to mend the tear, Lily is then able to fill, retouch, and integrate the damaged area with the rest of the image.

08/04/2026

Our exhibition recommendation of the week is Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, which has just opened at the V & A South Kensington. This is the UK's first-ever exhibition devoted to Elsa Schiaparelli, spanning from the 1920's to present day, exploring her radical designs and surrealist influences.

"Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art" will run until 8 November 2026. Tickets for this exhibition are already fully booked for the next month, so be sure to book in advance.

This exhibition traces the history, impact and continuing influence of one of the 20th century’s most innovative fashion creatives, Elsa Schiaparelli.

06/04/2026

Happy Easter Monday!🐣🌼

Nothing says Easter quite like a basket of Fabergé eggs.

The cultural phenomenon of Imperial Fabergé Easter eggs began in Russia in 1885, when Tsar Alexander III gifted his wife a white enamel hen egg, designed by jeweller and goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé.

We have been lucky enough to work on many Fabergé pieces over the years, including an egg!

03/04/2026

Unsure of how to spend your Easter weekend? Our holiday recommendation is the Britten Pears sculpture park at Snape Maltings in Suffolk.

Many artists have exhibited and installed their work throughout these grounds since 1967, when the Snape Maltings Concert Hall was established by Benjamin Britten and opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The estate features notable pieces by artists including Henry Moore, Damien Hirst, and Ryan Gander.

A highlight of the visit is this Barbara Hepworth series of sculptures, The Family of Man (1970). Hepworth is known for her organic abstract sculptures that exemplify modernism. The bronze sculptures, also known by their earlier title Nine Figures on a Hill, each represent a different familial figure and stage of life.

This heritage site is a perfect family-friendly destination, featuring converted Victorian buildings, independent shops, cafés, performance venues, and galleries.

01/04/2026

As Easter is approaching, we want to share a restoration project that we are honoured to have completed for St. Winefride Church in Wimbledon, not far from our studios.

This outdoor wooden crucifix is situated atop the church's WWI memorial, tiled forecourt, and surrounding mound. The statue and memorial had suffered from long-term weathering and deterioration. Prior to our treatment, the wooden cross had shown significant structural and surface issues such as warping, surface soiling, and rotting, as well as multiple missing tiles at the base.

In the studio, our senior conservator Pavol carefully stabilised the structure, and replaced the damaged lower section, roofing material, and tiles. He then re-touched the gilded decorative elements and re-coated the statue in a weather-resistant coating. Our team has returned the historic monument to its home at St. Winefride, where it can be viewed today.

30/03/2026

Happy Easter break!🐇🐣

Please note that our offices, studios, and workshops will be closed for Easter holidays on Good Friday and on Easter Monday, 3rd April - 6th April.

30/03/2026

Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya was born on this day in 1746. Goya's work ranges from the Rococo style to the sombre Romanticism through which he explored war and the human condition. He was a sharp observer of the world around him, and his art reflected the political turmoil of his time. Many of his later works depict scenes from the Peninsula Wars, which have paved the way for modern art movements.

In many of his works, Goya uses chiaroscuro, a contrasting of light and shadow that amplifies the emotional intensity of a piece. This technique is evident in one of his more famous paintings, The Third of May 1808.

A Picnic, 1785-90 is currently on display in The National Gallery.

Francisco de Goya, A Picnic, 1785-90. Read about this painting, learn the key facts and zoom in to discover more.

30/03/2026

Born on this day in 1853, Vincent Van Gogh is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Post-Impressionist art. He created over 800 oil paintings in his lifetime, distinguished by bold colours and expressive brushstrokes, despite only selling a singular piece while alive. His distinctive style developed through influences from Japanese woodblock prints, nature, and the Impressionist movement. Since his death, his fame has grown rapidly, and his pieces have inspired countless modern artists.

Van Gogh's renowned Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is currently on display at The Courtauld Gallery, alongside several of his other portraits. Many of his pieces can also be viewed at The National Gallery.

Discover Vincent van Gogh's famous painting Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear at The Courtauld Gallery, based at Somerset House in central London.