Textile Conservator Sought for Full Time Position

Leading antiques textile dealer, who operates full time conservation and framing business, seeks full-time, on-site conservator and framer.  Applicants should have completed masters level training, should be highly skilled at sewing and exceptional with color matching.  Persons with a strong background in painting preferred for creating patches behind printed textiles with loss.  This is an on-site position with daytime hours, but with a limited amount of occasional overtime.  Competitive pay, based upon experience.  Located in South-Central Pennsylvania.  Contact Jeff at (717) 502-1281 or email [log in to unmask]


Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, LLC
Early American Flags * Painted American Furniture * Folk Art
Member - Antiques Council, Antiques Dealers Asso. of America (ADA), Antiques & Arts Dealers League (AADLA), Cinoa
York County, Pennsylvania
(717) 676-0545  cell
(717) 502-1281  office
http://www.jeffbridgman.com

Further details, from Jeff Bridgman:

I have done some free appraisals for Winterthur and the Museum of the American Revolution and others, but what I do is buy and sell and curate some major collections for clients.

I stock more than 2,000 flags.

My conservation department mounts and frames flags, but we don't own a mat cutter.  We don't cut and build wooden frames.  We don't use mat board or foam core by-in-large.

I do have an aluminum expert and master carpenter who makes custom frames and strainers and cuts plexiglas, plus other expert carpentry staff that helps in that department.  I expect that no one in the country conserves and frames as many huge textiles as we do in a year's time, so that part is important.

My conservators do not cut mat boards or build frames.  They sew and they paint on occassion.  They prepare mounts, but not the woodworking part.

They do not write reports.  We don't do that, so for someone who hates paperwork, this is the place for them.

They [the textile conservators] do not appraise flags or have anything whatsoever to do with valuation.  I can't even imagine for a moment how any conservator would have the skills to do that.  That is my job.  They get paid by the hour as full or part time employees, just like someone who works at a large museum would be in that capacity. 

We are not perfect, we are not an institution, but we do care a great deal about what we do and we strive to do better.  It's my job to help with the stewardship of these objects, which I love. 

I'd like to raise the bar and hire someone who has a foundation of knowledge that I and my other staff do not have.  I am well-educated, but not in that field.  My full-time expert metal worker and carpenter is a nuclear engineer (long story).  My full time photographer has 2 photography degrees.  My other [textile conservation] staff should be well educated in their fields as well, not just women who can sew.

Jeff Bridgman

Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, LLC
Early American Flags * Painted American Furniture * Folk Art
Member - Antiques Council, Antiques Dealers Asso. of America (ADA), Antiques & Arts Dealers League (AADLA), Cinoa
York County, Pennsylvania
(717) 676-0545  cell
(717) 502-1281  office
http://www.jeffbridgman.com

"Things may come to those who wait, but only what's left behind by those that hustle."  -  Abraham Lincoln