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06 February 2012

Inside the Mind of a Housekeeping Guru

Have you ever wondered who maintains our stunning collections? Josephine Oxley, Keeper of the Wellington Collection at Apsley House, lifts the lid on English Heritage's behind the scenes heroes in this short interview.

A Saxon Service Plate depicting Apsley House as it originally looked.

1. What is your favourite item from the Apsley House collection?

This is very difficult. I think I would go for the Saxon Service of Meissen porcelain that depicts scenes from the Duke of Wellington's life just because it is such a wonderfully unique thing and so beautifully painted. The Service was presented to the 1st Duke of Wellington in 1819 by King Frederick Augustus IV of Saxony. There are 105 hand painted dessert plates which show battle scenes and places associated with the Duke of Wellington.

2. Is there any item that is particularly difficult to conserve, or takes a long time to clean and take care of?

Yes, the Portuguese centrepiece. It is huge, silver gilt and has lots of intricate little bits, so dusting it is a delicate and time-consuming exercise. It also sits in the middle of a large dining table which means that we have to get on the table to dust it!

3. Do you have a favourite housekeeping tip that people can use at home?

My top tip for caring for objects at home is don't use a feather duster. They can't be washed and have hard edges that can scratch delicate surfaces. What we often use in historic houses is a unbleached lambswool duster on an extendable pole, but any kind of soft lint-free cloth is good.

4. What is the oldest item in the colection at Apsley?

A painting of the last supper by Juan de Flandres which dates back to 1505! This is one of a series of 47 small panels (this is the only one at Apsley) painted with subjects of the New Testament and recorded as being property of Queen Isabella of Spain.

5. Are there any items in the Apsley House Art Collection that aren't on display?

There are some items in store but but not many. As you can tell from looking around Apsley House most of the wall space is full and so are the cabinets.