About

Carola is a metal conservator, with a focus on archaeological objects, and is currently the conservator for maritime archaeological company MSDS Marine. She is based at the Historic England conservation lab in Portsmouth (Fort Cumberland). Before this, Carola worked for 25 years in the creative sector, in both practical and managerial roles.

In 2020 Carola graduated from West Dean College of Arts and Conservation with a Post Graduate Diploma in Conservation of Metals, and followed with a Masters in the same specialism. Her BA (1995) was in 3D Glass Design and Craftsmanship, which included glass casting, glass blowing and stained glass.  Following her BA Carola completed an apprenticeship in Theatrical Prop Making at Glyndebourne Opera House.

This combination of creative practical skills, material knowledge and appreciation, observation, interpersonal skills and team work has proved to be prefectly transferable to the role of conservator.

Current job role

Carola is based at the Historic England conservation labs, where she collaborates with her colleagues to assess and treat archaeological objects and collections, from both terrestrial and maritime sites, with a focus on metals. In addition to her work with Historic England, she also carries out conservation treatments on objects recovered by MSDS Marine, Historic England’s maritime archaeology partner.

Current projects include conservation of 100 sabres – the contents of a chest recovered from The Rooswijk shipwreck, explained further here. Carola appears in this short film showing the excavation and conservation of the extensive range of objects recovered. Additional projects include assessment of archaeological collections prior to deposit.

Conservation internships and voluntary positions

Brighton Royal Pavilion – Carola interned with the conservation team during Summer 2019.  Her main task was to assess, document and treat the silver gilt banqueting suite, as well as assisting the collections care team.  Listen to Carola’s experience of working at Brighton Pavilion by clicking the link for ‘Voices of the Royal Pavilion’  podcast on the blog page.

Fishbourne Roman Palace – Carola received a Plowden and Clothworker’s bursary to complete a placement in 2021 where she assessed and treated archaeological copper alloy objects from the collection. She also assessed and treated a bronze age hoard for the Novium museum, Chichester.

Worthing Museum – Carola received a Plowden and Clothworker’s bursary for a  placement in 2021, to treat objects from the archaeological metals collection, and create social media content for the museum’s social platforms. She has since carried on to treat more of the museums’ archaeological display collections.