Further information on BAFRA

Introduction by John Bly History of BAFRA Objectives of BAFRA Obtaining a BAFRA directory

Introduction by John Bly

Since its inception by a group of West Dean Students in the late 1970s, BAFRA has indeed come a very long way. It began as a rather loosely knit group of furniture enthusiasts with few funds, and through lack of publicity, was relatively unknown amongst the antiques trade and the public at large. Over a decade later BAFRA is now widely acknowledged as being the authority on antique furniture restoration in Britain. This accolade is also heard in mainland Europe and in other parts of the world.

There was never more of a need for informed and sympathetic conservation/restoration of the nation's heritage than at the present time and in my opinion BAFRA fulfils this need. There are parts of the country still not covered by BAFRA members and efforts are well in hand to try to correct this. BAFRA's very high entry standards ensure that only the very best and most talented artist craftsmen gain membership. It is no easy feat to convince the BAFRA examiners, who rightly regard their now well-developed assessment system as a cornerstone of BAFRA's success and the esteem which its members enjoy.

Not all the best furniture restorers are BAFRA members, but I believe they should be. Not just to enjoy the kudos of being a member, but also to share their expertise and experience with other BAFRA members, for sharing knowledge is an important part of the enhancement of conservation and restoration skills. I wish BAFRA every success in its continuing development and I cannot commend too highly the spirit and integrity of the Association.

History of BAFRA

The British Antique Furniture Restorers' Association was founded in 1979 by a group of students at West Dean College. At that time we were witnessing a sudden proliferation in Yellow Pages and the media of unqualified and inexperienced "Antique Furniture Restorers" in response to the upward spiralling of furniture prices. BAFRA's founders felt strongly that the public and the antique trade needed some form of protection for their furniture as did the established craftsmen.

1980s and development of the Conservation Profession

The 1980s saw the start of the development of the Conservation Profession of which furniture forms a large part in terms of our "moveable cultural heritage" and BAFRA shortly became the sole representatives in this specialist area. Since those early days BAFRA has grown in size and stature and is now widely recognised as the authority on furniture conservation and restoration in Britain. From the start BAFRA demanded high achievement in terms of craft skills and knowledge of furniture development and design and to this end put in place an Assessment Procedure which aims to achieve the highest standards.

BAFRA membership requirements

Entrants to BAFRA membership are required to have at least five years' experience in the profession, high achievement in cabinetmaking and finishing skills and similarly high standards in some of the more specialist skills such as gilding, boullework, pietra dure and lacquerwork, to mention but a few. A thorough knowledge of Furniture History is also expected. An assessor visits applicants to "examine" their skills and knowledge as well as their business management and business integrity and reports to the Executive Committee who will decide whether to admit the applicant to BAFRA Full Membership. BAFRA is one of only three professional bodies in the conservation-restoration profession to "Accredit" its members and takes this responsibility very seriously.

Some people feel that the BAFRA Assessment system is "draconian, unfriendly and too stringent" but the passage of time has shown that the public, the antique trade and the museum community respect the system and some would even have it further strengthened. There are over a hundred Full "Accredited" BAFRA members which represent the best artist-craftsmen in the field of furniture conservation and restoration in Britain. Not all the best in Britain are members and BAFRA actively tries to achieve an even stronger representation than at present. The majority of BAFRA members are single, or at least, small operatives and the membership covers the whole of Britain. BAFRA also has some overseas members in Scandinavia, Germany, France, Australia, Cyprus and the USA.

In 1993, in response to the development of college courses in furniture conservation and restoration across the country, BAFRA put in place a Students Section to help graduates find their way into the profession. The Student Section is now larger than the Full Members which augers well for the growth and well-being of the Association. The standard of teaching is high and highly capable graduates are emerging who will one day take their places as BAFRA Full Members. Parallel to this, BAFRA has an educational remit to enhance the knowledge and skill of its members and to this end runs a series of public teaching seminars and conferences which are advertised in the antiques press and in the nationals. BAFRA also takes part in various fairs such as Olympia, Islington and Harrogate.

9 Colleges across the UK are affiliated with BAFRA. These Colleges run a variety of courses in furniture conservation and restoration of which the 3 year Degree and 2 year Higher National Diploma courses are relevant to BAFRA membership requirements. The BAFRA Affiliated Colleges are:-

Buckinghamshire & Chilterns University College, High Wycombe
Glasgow College of Building and Printing
Lauder College, Dunfermline, Fife
Leeds College of Art and Design
Little Surrenden Workshops,Ashford, Kent
Manchester College of Art and Technology
Rycotewood, Thame, Oxfordshire
West Dean College, Chichester, Sussex
York College

Students at the Affiliated Colleges join BAFRA's Student Section and are able to take part in the sections busy and most valuable programme. Later on graduation, Student Section Members are able to obtain employment in BAFRA Member's studios and workshops where their can gain the essential experience needed before setting up their own businesses. Moreover as Members of the Student Section they have access to help and advice from the BAFRA Full Members on technical matters and business advice.

The Objectives of BAFRA

Obtaining a BAFRA directory