Metals Conservator

Metals conservators examine, stabilise, clean, consolidate, and treat corroded or damaged metal objects across a wide range of alloys and historical periods — from Bronze Age archaeological finds and Roman coins to medieval armour, 18th-century silver, industrial heritage objects, and large-scale outdoor bronze sculpture. Examination involves identifying corrosion products, understanding their stability and significance (active bronze disease versus stable patina), and documenting condition photographically and in writing.

Treatment includes mechanical cleaning using hand tools and micro-abrasive systems to remove harmful corrosion without disturbing significant surfaces; chemical reduction or corrosion conversion treatments; consolidation of fragile structures; application of protective coatings such as microcrystalline wax or conservation lacquers; and structural repair using reversible solder joins or mechanical fixings. Outdoor bronze sculpture conservation involves large-scale patina assessment, cleaning, and wax protection campaigns, often with working at height. Archaeological metalwork from waterlogged deposits may require chloride removal by electrolytic reduction.

West Dean College and University College London (Institute for Sustainable Heritage) offer postgraduate conservation programmes covering metals and objects. Icon ACR is the professional standard. Major employers include the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, National Trust, English Heritage, and specialist commercial conservators serving the auction and dealer markets.

Metal heritage objects are uniquely vulnerable to active corrosion, and the consequences of inaction — bronze disease destroying a sculpture, chloride-induced failure of an archaeological artefact — are irreversible. The statutory duty of care placed on museums and local authorities for publicly owned metalwork sustains consistent institutional demand. Pre-sale treatment at major auction houses and private collector care generate reliable commercial income. The diagnostic complexity of metals conservation — distinguishing harmful from beneficial corrosion products, selecting appropriate treatments for different alloy compositions — requires specialist knowledge that is not widely held and takes years to develop, protecting practitioners who invest in full qualification.

Morning: continue treatment of a large Bronze Age shield from a site excavation — consolidate the corroded surface with Paraloid B72 in acetone, mechanically clean a small area of active corrosion under the binocular microscope with tungsten carbide picks, and apply benzotriazole as a corrosion inhibitor. Afternoon: inspect a pair of outdoor bronze memorial figures at a war memorial for an annual conservation review — assess the patina, note areas of active chloride corrosion, photograph all areas of concern, and apply a fresh coat of microcrystalline wax to completed areas. End of day: write the condition report and conservation schedule for the memorial commission.