Due to popular demand, the BVMA have teamed up with varnish expert Pierre Flavetta   https://www.flavettaliuteria.com/about again to offer members the incredible opportunity to further their varnishing skills with this exciting course.

Here’s all the information you need to know:

Start 5.00pm – Friday 5th December 2025

End 3.30pm – Friday 12th December 2025

Maximum 11 places.

Cost:

Single Ensuite room - £1100

Shared room Ensuite - £1000

Single Non Ensuite room - £1000

Shared room Non Ensuite - £900

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

·       Colouring 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 colour for new or antiqued instruments

·        "Historical" colophony varnishes without colour for new or antiqued instruments

·        "Optimized" colophony varnishes without colour for new or antiqued instruments

Booking

Bursaries are not available for this course.

Keep an eye on your e-mails from the BVMA for more information about booking your place.  Full details will be given nearer the time. 

There is a £100 deposit with the remaining balance being payable by the end of September 2025.