The British History Podcast 69 – Staffordshire Hoard: Conservation with Deborah Cane
Jan 15, 2013
Deborah Cane, Conservation expert for the Staffordshire Hoard, discusses the preservation process of the hoard, including artifact conservation and restoration techniques, the impact of light on object decay, computer modeling, cleaning and preserving damaged pieces, and the extensive restoration and funding support received for the project.
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First Moment Of Discovery
- Deborah Cane discovered the hoard when colleagues became unusually quiet and asked her to pack finds for the British Museum.
- She first saw a single cleaned pommel cap and then dozens of tip boxes full of gold, revealing a far larger discovery than expected.
Stylistic Variety Unlocks Research
- The hoard shows a wider stylistic range than previous finds like Sutton Hoo, not just a single high-quality style.
- That range makes the collection unusually valuable for understanding regional and craft variation in the period.
Document Before You Touch
- Document condition before treatment by photographing, measuring, weighing, and noting fragile areas.
- Clean and stabilise only to the level needed to reveal original surfaces and avoid unnecessary restoration.