British Museum, The Reading Room Restoration

Between 1999 and 2000, I had the privilege of working as part of a small team of signwriters contracted through Hare & Humphreys, a distinguished firm renowned for conserving historic interiors, on the meticulous restoration of the British Museum’s iconic Reading Room.

My specific role involved executing intricate pattern work using gold size, meticulously preparing surfaces for gilders to apply gold leaf. This process was crucial in reinstating the room’s authentic blue, cream, and gold color scheme, reflecting the aesthetic vision of its original design.​

After years of being off-limits to the public, the iconic domed Reading Room of the British Museum officially reopened in 2024. This grand space, completed in 1857, became a world-renowned hub of knowledge, where only the most esteemed scholars and writers could refine their craft. Among its famous patrons were Karl Marx, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, and even Jacob Richter—Lenin’s chosen pseudonym.

The restoration project, led by the esteemed architectural firm Foster and Partners, aimed to preserve the historical integrity of the Reading Room while integrating it into the newly designed Great Court. The Great Court, inaugurated in 2000, transformed the museum’s inner courtyard into a vibrant public space, with the Reading Room as its focal point.

For years, from 2013 onward, the Reading Room was used occasionally for exhibitions but remained largely closed to the public.

Seeing it reopen in 2024 is a moment of reflection, not only on its remarkable history but also on the work that went into preserving it. The Reading Room stands as a testament to the enduring importance of knowledge, craftsmanship, and the spaces that house them.