Thread by @UKParliament

Today is #AskACurator Day, and we have 3 specialist curators answering your questions on our Parliamentary Art, Historic Furniture and Architectural Fabric Collections! 🖼️🚪🪑

Let's hear your questions and their answers ⏬

First over to our Parliamentary Art expert Melanie 🎨🖼️✏️

💬 "How many works are hidden away in storage? Do they get put on display in rotation?" ❓

80% of our 9,000 artworks are on display - a high percentage compared to many museums. We do rotate the works on display - some are fragile and can only be displayed for short periods.

💬 "What’s the oldest art piece you have?" ❓

The oldest works in the Collection are our Medieval King statues. They date from the 1300’s, and can be found in Westminster Hall. They have been there for a very long time, and have seen many historic events take place.

This print depicts Westminster Hall in 1738 when it was used as a court of law.

You can spot the six Kings in the background - they are in niches in the wall behind the judges.

💬 "If you could have one piece which would it be?" ❓

I would pick this rare 1834 drawing by Frances Rickman. It shows women looking down at the @HouseofCommons through a grille in the ceiling. Soon after making this Rickman saw the Palace burn down: ukvote100.org/2017/05/19/out…

Now over to Emily, who's answering your questions about Historic Furniture in the Palace of Westminster! 🪑🕰️🛋️

💬 "What’s the most delicate or obscure piece held by the collection?" ❓

People are usually surprised that the collection includes bins! There are 44 of these wastebaskets made by cabinetmaker Andrew A. Pegram in 1950 for the @HouseofCommons, and they are still in use today.

Some of the most delicate objects in the collection are clocks, with their intricate metalwork and complex mechanisms. ⚙️

Parliament has two specialist horologists (clock makers) who ensure they stay in working order. 🕰️

💬 "What is the oldest item in the collection?" ❓

One of the oldest pieces is this silver tankard. The Latin inscription tells us it was probably a gift from John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, to Chaloner Chute, a lawyer, politician and Speaker of the @HouseofCommons (1654-9).

💬 "What is the most historically significant chair?" ❓

The Sovereign's Throne is one of the most important items of furniture in the Palace of Westminster. It has been used by the monarch for the State Opening of Parliament since 1852.

However, the Speaker’s Chair in the @HouseofCommons also has a lot of history. It is a replica of Augustus Pugin’s design for the Speaker’s Chair from 1849, which was destroyed when the Commons Chamber was bombed in 1941.

The chair was a gift to the British Parliament from Australia in 1950.

They could replicate Pugin’s original design from the exact copy the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association had given the Australian House of Representatives in 1926, which is now at @MoAD_Canberra.

The existing Speaker’s Chair is made of black bean wood from North Queensland and the elaborate carving includes ‘The gift of Australia’ in Gothic lettering.

The Canadian House of @OurCommons also have a replica of the Speaker’s Chair in their Chamber.

And now we have Sophie, answering all your questions about our Architectural Fabrics Collection! 🏛️🪵🧱

#AskACurator

💬 "What’s the most unusual thing you have in the collection?" ❓

This an object which, despite much research, remains a mystery to us! Still listed as an 'unidentified object' is this dark red bar, that has the word 'Pummy' imprinted on it. If you have any ideas let us know!

💬 "Where is the oldest part of the building?" ❓

Westminster Hall is the oldest part, with the building beginning in 1097 and finishing 1099. The majority of the original walls remain intact, though they have been heightened and refaced over the years to ensure their longevity.

💬 "How many materials come under architectural fabrics and which needs the most care?" ❓

We care for stone, wood, metal, clay (tiles) and paper (wallpaper). While some are more sensitive than others, the key is being able to care for them equally in the same environment.

This means monitoring the temperature and relative humidity of our stores to ensure it is suitable for all materials, and being careful with storage solutions to make sure we don't create micro-climates which can cause certain materials, such as metal, to degrade quicker.