Visit by glass conservation expert Sandra Davison
March 2004 

In March 2004 the Institute for Masonry and Construction Research was privileged to host as lecturer Ms Sandra Davison, author of the definitive work Conservation and Restoration of Glass. 

Ms Davison FIIC ACR trained in archaeological conservation at the Institute of Archaeology (London University) and has worked as a practicing conservator for over thirty years. Fourteen years were spent as a conservator at the British Museum, and she has now been in private practice since 1984. Ms Davison has worked for museums in the United Kingdom, France, the Czech Republic, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, and has taught glass restoration in the UK, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Serbia & Monte Negro, the USA and Egypt.

During her visit to the University of Malta, Ms Davison gave lectures to the postgraduate students of the Institute for Masonry and Construction Research on  the use, deterioration and conservation of ceramics and glass in ancient and historic buildings. These lectures dealt with floors, windows, doors, mirrors, lighting (lanterns, chandeliers), mosaics, fire glazed clay floor tiles, glazed white earthenware tiles and tiled objects. The teaching sessions, which were well illustrated by slides, were followed by discussions when particular case studies (e.g. The Cosmati Pavement of Westminster Abbey and the medieval floor in the Tower of London) were illustrated and discussed with the postgraduate students.

Sandra Davison also gave a Public Lecture organised by the Institute for Masonry and Construction Research in collaboration with Heritage Malta, and given at the headquarters of Heritage Malta in Valletta, The lecture, 'The Conservation and Restoration of Vessel Glass' illustrated in detail how glass objects, ranging from those recovered from archaeological excavations to historic items such as candlesticks, chandeliers and even a light bulb (!) can be restored. Sandra explained, to the audience, the steps involved in such delicate work. A question and answer session at the end of the talk highlighted the great interest generated by this specific restoration topic.