Richard Branyan
Director of Lower Lodge
Conservation and Museum Services
Founded in 1993
Lower Lodge Conservation specializes in the repair, conservation, upholstery of
wooden objects and furniture.
Lower Lodge offers full upholstery using documented fabrics
or fabrics of the clients choice.
We also dismantle conserve, rewire and install
historic chandeliers.
Lower Lodge can examine, document and catalog
wooden objects, furniture, and clocks.
Write treatment reports for wooden objects and furniture.
Assess collections and advise on environmental conditions to minimize deterioration.
Research
appropriate designs for the restoration and replacement of missing areas of furniture by using well documented examples.
Inspect furniture for signs of authenticity of fraud.
Perform extensive restorations, repairing and replacing missing moldings, turnings, carvings, inlays and marquetry.
Experienced with veneers, tortoiseshell, ivory, leather and other materials.
Treat
and stabilize damaged finishes.
Design and construct crates for transport
of art objects.
Write and present lectures on conservation
Present
workshops on museum cataloging and object marking.
Richard
Branyan trained in England at University of London's College of Furniture.
After college
he worked for a well known London conservation business, Where he treated furniture from Royal Collections, historic
palaces, private collections, and for major London Antique dealers.
Conserved a wide variety
of furniture ranging from Elizabethan to Art Deco, including English, European, Asian and American Furniture.
Made modern designed and reproduction furniture for clients including the Prince of Oman and London and New York
decorators.
Helped restore, deliver and install furniture for the Royal Tent at Windsor Castle
for His Highness Prince Phillip's Birthday Party.
Professional Development
American Institute
for Conservation, Annual Conference,
1999, 2004, 2005
American
Association of Museums, Annual Conference,
1997, 2000, 2001, 2004
American Association for State and Local History,
Annual Conference, 2000
Mississippi Museums Association, Annual Conference,
2001, 2003, 2004
Southeastern Museums Conference,
1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003
Natchez Antiques Forum, 1993-2003
Object Marking Workshop - Registrars Committee
AAM, 1997
Louisiana Art Conservation Alliance,
"A
Night to Remember: Preserving the Titanic." 1997
United Kingdom Institute of Conservation,
Annual Conference, 1989
Lectures Conducted
Dozens of Lectures presented
on Conservation, Disaster Preparation/Recovery, Furniture and Antiques.
Volunteer Service
Institute
of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Conservation Project Support, Field Reviewer for conservation grants since 1998
NEH & IMLS, Field Reviewer for Conservation grants,
American Treasures
since 2002
Treasurer for the Wooden Artifacts group of the
American
Institute for Conservation, 2003-2005
Provided advice to the Biedenharn Museum and to Beauvoir
after arson attacks in 2004
Provided emergency conservation support at the Arlington
Mansion (Natchez) after a severe fire, 2002
Professional
Memberships
American Institute for Conservation
(AIC)
(elected a Professional Associate 1997)
(Treasurer
AIC wooden Artifacts Group, 2003 - 2005)
Southeastern Regional Conservation Alliance (SERCA)
Louisiana Art Conservation Alliance (LACA)
American Association of Museums (AAM)
Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC)
Mississippi Museums Conference (MMA)
Publications
Dealing with Flood Damage on Furniture - provided to the public at workshops after Katrina, 2005
SEMC Session Review, SERA News, December 2002
Conservation Corner, HHMAG RAG, August
2001
AAM Session Review, SERA News, July 2001
Press Appearances
Featured on numerous TV programs,
and in more than a dozen newspapers, & magazines.
Other Memberships
Rotary Club International, member since
1996
(Multiple "Paul Harris Fellow", former board member and Sgt.-at-Arms)
Natchez Opera Festival, former board member
Natchez Historical Society - President,
2004 - 2006
Awards
The Duke of Edinburgh's Silver Award, 1982
Epsom College, Woodworking
Prize 1983
Epsom College, Graham Sutherland Art Prize 1983
Certificate
of Appreciation, Rosalie Mansion, Natchez, MS 2001 Certificate of Appreciation, Mississippi Governor's Mansion, Jackson, MS
2007
Lower Lodge Conservation, 
