Zenzie Tinker ACR
Projects
About Me
I am the founder, Director and Lead Conservator at Zenzie Tinker Conservation where I and my team investigate, conserve and beautifully present textiles, tapestries and costume to the very highest standards. I have 35 years experience working in both the public and private sectors including at the Museum of London and the Victoria & Albert Museum. In 2003, I left the V&A to establish my freelance business from a small space in Brighton – the business went from strength to strength and has expanded into a highly skilled team of textile and paper conservators working from a large, purpose designed conservation studio in central Brighton. Clients include the V&A, National Trust, Westminster Abbey, Arundel Castle, Royal Pavilion & Museums (Brighton & Hove), Manchester Museums and the Dubai Cultural & Arts Authority, as well as a range of smaller private collectors of costume and heirlooms. We are passionate about communicating and sharing our conservation stories, offering training, workshops and talks, and we regularly contribute to national and international conferences. We also offer a growing range of conservation-related products.
Our studio profile is in the process of being developed, please go to https://www.zenzietinker.co.uk/ for more detailed information about our services and examples of our work.
Training
BA (Hons), First Class, History of Design, specialising in history of textiles and dress, Manchester Polytechnic. Dissertation, A study of the paper pattern service provided by the new mid-Victorian middle class magazines with particular reference to the Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine and the Young Englishwoman.
Apprentice textile and tapestry conservator to Ksynia Marko, Textile Conservation Studio, London. The apprenticeship included internships in 1989 at the V&A Museum and the Textile Conservation Centre sponsored by the Conservation Unit of the Museums and Galleries Commission
Museums Association Conservation Certificate in Textiles. Recipient of the Trevor Walden Prize given in recognition of special achievement or merit
Accredited Conservator, Institute of Conservation
Work History
I began to work from home in Brighton as a freelance conservator in early 2003 my first project involving a condition survey of the Ellen Terry theatrical dress collection for the National Trust. As demand increased soon more space was required necessitating a move to large studio premises in central Brighton. Gradually I have gathered a team of skilled conservators creating Zenzie Tinker Conservation Ltd., treating textiles, tapestry, costume, mixed media and paper objects from all periods.
Senior Textile Conservator, Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Whilst at the V&A I principally worked on the first British Galleries project preparing costume and textiles for the new permanent displays as well as instigating and organising an international workshop in collaboration with the British Museum and the Canadian Conservation Institute on the use of adhesives in textile conservation.
Textile Conservator, Museum of London, London. Whilst at the Museum of London I worked on the costume and textiles for several major exhibitions including many significant garments for In Royal Fashion, the clothes of Princess Charlotte and Queen Victoria. I also had the opportunity to research and treat a rare 19th century rubberised raincoat ultimately storing it in anoxic conditions.
Apprentice and then Assistant Textile Conservator to Ksynia Marko, Textile Conservation Studio, London. External assessor Sheila Landi, Head of Textile Conservation, V&A Museum. My apprenticeship in a busy private practice involved training on a wide range of textiles, tapestries and costume for museums, historic houses and private clients. Once qualified I remained at the studio as an assistant conservator, whilst studying for the Museums Association Certificate.
Short term contract Textile Conservator for Regional Galleries of New South Wales, Australia working on the Tamworth Fibre Art Collection
