The RESTORERS

Tristram Bainbridge, co-owner of Bainbridge Conservation, specialises in the conservation-restoration of Asian lacquer, which was admired as a precious and mysterious material when lacquerware objects first reached Europe from East Asia in the 16th century.

A furniture conservator at the V&A Museum since 2011, Tristram is also an associate lecturer for the furniture conservation programme at West Dean College, and a trustee of the Anna Plowden Trust, which supports education and training in heritage conservation. Here he explains the skills required for his intricate specialisation.

What is distinctive about Asian