The Secrets of the Ancient Art of Oil Varnish and Colouring

Friday 4 th December 2025 – Friday 11 th December 2025

Halsway Manor, Somerset https://halswaymanor.org.uk/

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

Here’s all the information you need to know:

Start 5.00pm – Friday 4 th December 2026

End after lunch – Friday 11 th December 2026

There are 11 places available.

Cost:

Single Ensuite room - £1150

Single Non Ensuite room - £1050

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.

You will be asked to fill in an expression of interest form online and you will be informed within 2 weeks if you have been allocated a place. There is a £100 deposit to secure your place if you are successful.