A crucial aspect in collection conservation is carrying out preventative cleaning procedures. This involves regularly dusting objects with pony-hair brushes, which are softer and less abrasive on gilding and glazing. Every five years, we conduct a deeper ‘wet-clean’ using conservation-grade detergent and de-ionised water. This enables residual dirt to be gently removed from the object’s surface, without damaging the structure or appearance of the piece. However, when wet-cleaning, we aim to avoid gilding as it is often water-based and could come away during the cleaning process.

Compared to other types of historic objects, porcelain proves to be a more robust collection piece. Although conditions should be dry and the humidity stable, porcelain is less likely to be impacted by risks such as high temperatures or pest damage than textiles or paintings. In fact, the highest risk posed to porcelain is poor handling. As a result, object moves are completed outside opening hours, which follows previous conservation rules set out by Alice de Rothschild that also included staff having to complete moves in silence. Unless a piece is heavily gilded, we may refrain from wearing protective gloves, as this can decrease dexterity and grip.