- History, Technique and Conservation of Picture Frames -

We are pleased to host a three-day workshop "Conservation of Cultural Heritage - History, Technique and Conservation of Picture Frames-" at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken) and the National Museum of Western Art (NMWA) lectured by Yukiko Barrow, an experienced conservation specialist in frames and furniture currently working at the Victoria and Albert Museum, England.

Yukiko will share her expertise on the history and techniques of frame making and current frame conservation practice in England.

Conservation processes such as gilding, toning and cleaning will be demonstrated at the practical training session. (Spoken language will be Japanese in both lectures and practical)

This is a full-day program with lectures in the morning at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken) and practical training in the afternoon at the National Museum of Western Art (NMWA).

It is mandatory that those attending the practical training attend all the morning lectures. Also, participants who wish to do the practical training must be able to attend all three days. If the maximum number of participants exceeded (90 people for the morning session, and 15 people for the afternoon session), participants will be selected based on the information provided in the application form. We hope that participants will share the knowledge and skills they acquired with others in their fields of expertise and contribute to the spread of frame preservation.

Please complete and submit the registration form, if you would like to attend this program. (Application deadline: 17th August 2025)
The acceptability of attendance will be sent by the end of August. A Certificate of completion will be given to those attended all three-day program.

The public lecture by Yukiko Barrow and Kana Nakae, a researcher of western-style picture frame in Japan, will be held on 1st November 2025, at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken). The program and registration details will be announced on our website as soon as they are ready.

 

Organized by:	National Center for Art Research Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties - Center for Conservation Science National Museum of Western Art
Date:	October 29, 30, and 31, 2025
Venue:	[Morning Lecture] Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken) - Basement Seminar Room [Afternoon Practical training] The National Museum of Western Art (NMWA) - 1st floor Sculpture Conservation Studio
Capacity:	[Morning Lecture] 90 people [Afternoon Practical training] 15 people (Those applying for the practical session must also attend the morning lectures. Only those who can participate for all three days are eligible to apply. If the number of applicants exceeds the available spots, participants will be selected based on their application documents.)
Admission:	Free

Program

Date		Date	Program
10/29	9:15	Tobunken	Registration
	9:45		Opening ceremony	Opening remarks(Takamasa Saito, Director General of Tobunken)
	10:00 – 12:00		Lecture	Case study on the display of frame conservation and frame making at V&A museum
	13:30 – 17:00	NMWA	Practical	Gypsum cast making: mold using dental silicone/Gesso application on wooden sample board and sanding
10/30	9:30 – 12:00	Tobunken	Lecture	History, style and restoration of picture frame
	13:30 – 17:00	NMWA	Practical	Acrylic gilding and oil gilding
10/31	9:10 – 9:40	NMWA	Practical	Oil gilding
	10:00 – 12:00	Tobunken	Lecture	History of frame glass and the latest discussion
	13:15 – 16:30	NMWA	Practical	Toning/ cleaning
	16:30 – 17:00		Practical	Closing remarks(Masayuki Tanaka, Director of NMWA)

Note: This program will be hosted jointly by the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (Tobunken) and the National Museum of Western Art (NMWA).
Note: This workshop program and the public lecture are supported by the grant from the Foundation For Cultural Heritage and Art Research.

Independent Administrative Institution National Museum of Art, National Center for Art Research
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