Furniture Conservation Fellowship: Davenport

Description: 2024-2025 Preservation Society of Newport County Furniture Conservation Fellowship: Davenport Job Summary The Preservation Society of Newport County offers annual Residential Research Fellowships to scholars and emerging professionals, designed to provide dedicated time and resources for comprehensive projects relevant to the organization’s current needs in areas such as fine art, decorative art, material culture, landscape design, horticulture, social history, and historic preservation.
The Preservation Society of Newport County Residential Fellowship is an opportunity to advance scholarship and gain specialized training/experience needed for future and emerging professionals seeking to pursue careers in academia, museums, historic preservation, historic houses and landscapes, or other cultural institutions.
Our Collections: The Preservation Society of Newport County protects, preserves, and presents a remarkable collection of eleven historic house museums spanning the history of Newport from the Colonial period through the Gilded Age.
Our properties include Hunter House (c.
1748), Kingscote (1841), Chateau-sur-Mer (1852), Green Animals Topiary Garden (c.
1860), Chepstow (1861), Isaac Bell House (1883), Marble House (1892), The Breakers (1895), The Breakers Stable and Carriage House (1895), The Elms (1901), and Rosecliff (1902).
Housed within these architectural masterpieces are more than 60,000 artworks from all around the globe, dating from ancient times to the modern era.
Position Description The 2024-2025 Conservation Fellow will work closely with both the Chief Curator and Conservation Department in support of the treatment of A.
H.
Davenport and Company (1845-1905) furniture selected by American architect and interior decorator, Ogden Codman Jr.
(1863-1951), for Vanderbilt family on the third floor of The Breakers (1895).
These spaces were once the bedroom suites for Vanderbilt children and guests and eventually became the apartments of Vanderbilt descendants until 2018.
The Fellow will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to present these rooms as part of a new tour experience.
A.
H.
Davenport and Company produced high end American furniture and interior decoration including paneling, textiles, wall coverings, hardware and decorative objects for many preeminent Gilded Age residences including the McKim, Mead and White renovation of the White House under Theodore Roosevelt.
The 2024-2025 Conservation Fellow will work both with and without supervision to examine, treat, and perform related research on Davenport furniture from the (eight) bedroom suites.
The fellowship will focus on compiling technical documentation about construction, materials, finishes and conditions towards development of a treatment master plan for third floor Davenport furniture.
The Fellow will be expected to perform analysis of clear and painted finishes; develop and test treatment methods; and implement conservation treatment on two or more exemplary pieces.
The Fellow also takes part in other activities within the Conservation Department.
Fellows must have the ability to complete research in a clearly defined area of study on a timeline that will result in regular deliverables.
Additionally, all Fellows must present a public lecture and write a 2,500-3,000-word essay based on their area of research.
Proven ability to work independently, organize and manage multiple projects, and meet rigorous deadlines is necessary, as are strong research, writing, and public speaking skills.
Fellows must contribute to the overall dynamics of the Fellowship Program through a high level of engagement with fellow scholars, Preservation Society staff, and peer institutions in and around Newport.
As such, in addition to the formal research project, the Fellow will be assigned participatory assignments that fall outside the project or project scope.
Thereby, a deep understanding will be gained that produces a holistic overview of the complex, yet essential, structure that allows non-profit institutions to offer truly compelling opportunities to diverse audiences.
Requirements: Basic Qualifications In order to be considered for the 2024-2025 Conservation Fellowship, Candidates must be graduates of a recognized master’s program in conservation or have equivalent training.
The degree should have been conferred within five years from the start of the fellowship.
Additional Qualifications and Skills Demonstrate exceptional visual and manual aptitudes and research skills.
Demonstrated success authoring technical documentation such as condition, treatment and analytical reports.
Proven ability to work independently, organize and manage multiple projects, and meet rigorous deadlines is necessary, as are strong research, writing, and public speaking skills.
Application Procedures Please apply online with a cover letter indicating interest and suitability and a résumé or curriculum vitae.
Complete applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, starting December 15, 2023.
Zoom interviews will be scheduled with preferred candidates by March 15, 2024.
Successful interview candidates will be asked to provide two academic or professional references, an academic writing sample, and one personal reference.
Selected candidates will be notified by April 15, 2024.
Additional Information The fellowship term is September 2024, to August 15, 2025.
Residential Fellows receive $24,000 in annual compensation, dedicated research and travel budget, and housing at no cost in the Berwind-Stautberg Scholars Center.