About EDGE - Edge Conservation Restoration Services

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Lynne Edge is an award winning conservator-restorer with almost 30 years experience conserving and restoring diverse collections of pottery, porcelain and related materials in the public and private sectors in the UK and overseas. After working in the public sector for almost 16 years, it was time for a change and Lynne stepped over into the private sector and founded EDGE Conservation-Restoration Services in 2008.

After gaining a diploma in Art and Design in Liverpool, Lynne undertook her Bachelor of Arts (hons) degree in Ceramics at West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham. She went on to train at the world-renowned West Dean College, Chichester, gaining her conservation-restoration qualification with distinction from the British Antique Dealers Association. In 1992 Lynne returned to her hometown of Liverpool to set up and head the Ceramics and Glass Conservation Section of the National Museums Liverpool. She is a former Chair of the Ceramic and Glass Conservation Group, and Council Member of the United Kingdom Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (UKIC). In 2002 Lynne gained her Accredited Conservator –Restorer status and is presently a PACR Accreditation Assessor for the Institute of Conservation (ICON).

Over the years, Lynne has handled and worked on thousands of objects from a broad range of cultures and time periods. To date, one of the highlights of her career was to handle and examine some of the famous Chinese terracotta warriors. She was engaged as the specialist freelance ceramic conservator by the National Museums Liverpool to condition check c80 ceramic objects at on-site stores in Xi’an, China, in preparation for transport to Liverpool for display. This included 8 Terracotta Warriors, a kneeling figure, a horseman and full-size terracotta horse. All items were re-condition checked on their arrival and then installed at World Museum Liverpool to form the China’s First Emperor and Terracotta Warriors Exhibition (9 February – 28 October 2018). Lynne returned to China in November 2018 to re-condition check all the ceramic and stone items on their return from World Museum Liverpool. This was the museum’s most successful exhibition ever.

The fully equipped studio is situated in the lovely C17th village of Little Crosby, 7 miles from Liverpool city centre and within easy reach of M53, M58 and M6 motorway networks. It is a fully secured studio that has been approved by the Security Advisor of the National Trust and is fitted with a high specification alarm system. A carpark in front of the studio facilitates easy access for deliveries and collections.

Winner of the Nigel Williams Prize

On 23 May 2010 Lynne Edge was awarded the Nigel Williams Prize for the Conservation of the glass Opus Sectile War Memorial of St. James Church, West Derby, Liverpool. This prize is awarded by the Ceramic and Glass Group of the Institute of Conservation to celebrate achievement of excellence in the field of Ceramics and Glass Conservation. This has been awarded biennially since its inception in 2002, and the prize includes a ceramic trophy that is a gilded ceramic version of the Portland Vase, which is on display in the Wedgwood Museum, Stoke-on Trent.

The Memorial

Out of just over 58,000 entries on the United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials there are only eleven glass Opus Sectile memorials listed; one of these belongs to St.James’ Church, Mill Lane, West Derby, Liverpool. The impressive memorial is comprised of 3000 pieces of glass that form the 2.2 x 1.4m Opus Sectile panel, which is surrounded by a sandstone frame. This stunning glass war memorial features the doomed liner Lusitania. It is a unique tribute to the dead of two world wars of the West Derby community and shows the Cunard vessel steaming at full speed with smoke billowing from her four funnels

Over time, water ingress had caused extensive deterioration and damage to the memorial. The glass panel in particular was badly affected. The complex challenges of this project were not only associated with how to record, dismantle, and conserve almost 3000 pieces of glass, but how to remount them in such a way that the Opus Sectile panel could, if necessary, be easily removed and re-sited in the future.

Opus Sectile Glass War Memorial, St. James’ Church, Liverpool

First of all, don’t panic, it is very likely that your object can be restored. For insurance purposes, it is often a good idea to photograph the broken object in situ before collecting all the pieces together. Do not try to repair the object yourself; a ceramic conservator-restorer would have to dismantle this repair, which would add more time and cost to the full conservation-restoration treatment. Wrap each broken fragment individually in acid free tissue paper and number each package on the outside in pencil. NB. When handling the fragments do not touch their edges as any grease or dirt from your hands would be transferred and this would make the cleaning time longer. Once all the fragments, including the tiniest pieces, have been collected and wrapped, place them in a lidded box and on the outside write the number of fragments that are contained inside.

You can either bring the object to the studio or email images with approximate dimensions, then we will be able to identify the type of treatment necessary and associated costs. NB. If you want to bring the object to the studio in person, please ring to make an appointment as consultations are by appointment only. Treatment options and realistic outcomes will be discussed with you and once agreed, you will be asked to sign a standard form of contract. Then your treatment can be scheduled.

Accreditation is valued because it indicates a commitment to maintaining the highest standard of professional practice. In order to achieve accredited status, the conservator-restorer must prove that they have an in-depth knowledge of conservation techniques and practices, a high degree of professional competence, sound judgement, and a deep understanding of the principles which underpin their practice. Being accredited means that the conservator-restorer is proficient across Icon’s Professional Standards in conservation and must commit to maintaining their expertise through ongoing professional development (CPD).

Do you have an item or collection in need of care, repair or display? Call 0151 924 0447 or

Lynne Edge ACR

The Studio

Winner of the Nigel Williams Prize

Do you have something in need of conservation-restoration?