Due to popular demand, the BVMA have teamed up with varnish expert Pierre Flavetta to offer members the incredible opportunity to further their varnishing skills with this exciting course.

Cost £950 - £1050 which includes all food and accommodation. £100 deposit to secure your place with the balance payable by 30/09/2024.

You’ll learn about varnish theory, the history of varnishes and recent discoveries plus all about colourants and any other aspect of the history of varnishes you can imagine!

Limited number of places available, the course will open on July 18th at 7pm BST. Book soon to avoid disappointment.

BOOK HERE

Here is a snapshot of what you will be learning:

Varnish theory - General mechanisms of oils, resins, and oil varnish functioning

• Oil cooking

• Cooking colophony with lime

• Cooking colophony reinforced with lime (calcium hydroxide)

History of varnishes and recent discoveries - Study of the development of varnishes throughout history and the evolution of techniques and materials.

• Cooking "historical" colophony

• Cooking colophony using a historically consistent method.

• Cooking "optimized" colophony

• Cooking colophony without adding lime but optimizing the various desired reactions with modern materials

Solvent theory - Study of the mechanisms of solvents used for varnish.

Drier theory - Study of the mechanisms and materials of oil varnish driers, accelerating drying time.

Varnish mechanism and design - Study of the varnish properties based on the proportions of components.

Varnish assembly - Mixing colophony and oil and creating the varnishes.

Colorant theory - Study of the mechanisms of oil varnish coloration.

• General theory of soluble colorants

• General study of the principles and mechanisms of colorants soluble in oil

• Coloring varnishes with Cape and Socotra aloes

In-depth theory of soluble colorants and their fixation

• Oil coloration tests

• Resin coloration tests

History of colorants - Study of the development of colorants throughout history and the evolution of techniques and materials.

• Colouring varnishes with alizarin

During the course, the following varnishes will be made:

• Lime-reinforced colophony varnishes without color for new or antiqued instruments

• "Historical" colophony varnishes without color for new or antiqued instruments

• "Optimized" colophony varnishes without color for new or antiqued instruments