Matassa Toffolo was engaged to undertake in-depth cataloguing of several thousand fine and decorative art objects in this 17th century manor house. The extensive and important collection was created by a private collector and includes paintings, drawings, ceramics, furniture, clocks and metalwork. The project also included research into provenance, advice on loans, conservation, logistics, entering the collection on to a database and supervising photography

Matassa Toffolo curated a new display of silver for Westminster City Hall. We commissioned a bespoke display case, designed the layout and researched and created interpretation for this unique and historically significant group of objects, the earliest item of which dates from 1713. Two further bespoke cases in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour display Westminster civic regalia.

Based on her book Valuing your Collection, Freda was invited to talk to over 60 members of Imperial War Museum staff on how to approach the valuation of items in public collections, many of which have no market value. The talk also focused on born digital items which are difficult to assess.

Matassa Toffolo was contracted to undertake a complete survey of the collection, to produce new policies and procedures and to set out some strategic plans for the future of the collection.

Stories of Change: Hope, Faith and Love (4 September – 3 October 2021) featured 35 works from the collection displayed in five venues in and around Coventry, as part of Coventry’s celebration as UK City of Culture.

www.methodist.org.uk

The ground-breaking Bill Brandt / Henry Moore exhibition, which has received high critical acclaim, was organised by Matassa Toffolo. MTL managed transport and installation of over 300 items from international museums and private lenders. The exhibition, co-organised by the Yale Center for British Art, brings together two key figures of 20th Century art who were friends and collaborators.

The Design Museum was the latest organisation to receive our training in Due Diligence and Immunity from Seizure. Organisations who undertake this training can apply for Approved Status to allow them to offer Immunity from Seizure for loans from abroad.

We undertook the first-ever complete museum-standard survey and catalogue of the College’s art collection and devised the re-display of a number of works. We produced a detailed report on the collections with recommendations for future collections management and planned new displays and a framing, conservation and lighting programme.

As part of our on-going management of the College’s art collection, new displays were curated in public areas, with new interpretation. The new displays include topographical prints and drawings of the local area and a display of 19^th and early 20^th century caricatures from Vanity Fair.

Matassa Toffolo were commissioned to produce a detailed plan for the Goldsmiths’ Company on cataloguing, documentation and future management of their cultural collections and digital assets. Following an analysis of the collections and the Company’s requirements, and working to best practice guidelines, Freda and Julia provided advice and support and drew up a long-term strategy which will lead to a complete catalogue of holdings.

In time for the Open House Weekend in September 2019, we curated and hung a new display of Westminster Council’s historic collection of topographical paintings in the refurbished Lord Mayor’s Parlour at City Hall.

We organised the logistics for this important exhibition, liaising with public and private lenders to manage insurance, transport, collection and delivery. The exhibition featured paintings, works on paper, illustrations, books and photography relating to one of the greatest poets of the Victorian age.

Matassa Toffolo temporarily took over the NPG’s programme of loans to national and international exhibitions and partner organisations from the collection. We also advised on the logistics for an international touring exhibition.

Advising on and managing conservation on works of art in the Embassy building.

On behalf of the Church Commissioners, we undertook a research project into finding a new home for the 1930s German refugee artist Hans Feibusch’s important cycle of murals Pilgrim’s Progress (1944) in the crypt of St. Elisabeth’s Church, Eastbourne. Contacting a large network of specialist curators, architects and interested parties throughout the country, we attracted a great deal of attention to the issue and succeeded in obtaining expressions of interest in securing the future of this important work of art. The murals have subsequently been removed by the Feibusch Progress Project for conservation prior to re-siting in East Sussex. www.savethemural.org

Freda was invited by the British Council in Tashkent to advise senior museum professionals in Uzbekistan on how to join the international museum network and to foster relationships with other museums. Advising on museum standards as well as curatorship, loans, outreach and marketing, she led a workshop on How to set Up a World-Class Exhibition which, it is hoped, will mark the beginning of more cultural exchanges between Uzbekistan and the UK.

Matassa Toffolo undertook the first ever complete survey of works of art owned by Hertfordshire County Council. Particularly strong in mid-20th century British art, the collection also includes medieval sculpture and a group of portraits dating from the 18th to 20th centuries. Over a four-month period we visited Hertfordshire County Hall, Shire Hall and a number of public buildings across the County. We surveyed, photographed, researched and catalogued over 1,500 works of art and delivered a comprehensive report to the Council.

Managed the process of selecting the 2015 General Election Artist and facilitated the selection of the chosen artist (Adam Dant) and the production of his commissioned work, The Government Stable, launched in September 2015. See further information on our involvement here and here.

Lectures on collecting, managing and caring for works of art for courses held at Sotheby’s Institute and Masterpiece Art Fair.

Project management and curation of displays for the new extension of RIBA’s headquarters offices at 76 Portland Place, refitted by Theis & Khan architects, 2015.

Cataloguing and condition reporting the College’s art collection, advising on future care, management, conservation and display, 2014–15. In 2015, using the College’s art collection curated a new display on the history of the College and a temporary thematic art exhibition. The project involved selecting content, researching and writing captions and commissioning specialists to install new lighting systems to create attractive new display spaces.

Matassa Toffolo delivered an intensive five-day training course on Developing Exhibitions for international delegates.

Advice on initial stages of exhibition Magna Carta through the Ages (26 May–31 July 2015) including HLF application and schedule, 2014.

Advice on collections management, policies and museums working together, October 2014.

Organisation and management of the exhibition The Perfect Place to Grow: 175 Years of the Royal College of Art, 2012–13.

Advice on immunity from seizure for the major exhibition Houghton Revisited, 2013.

Feasibility study on management of the collection, 2012.

De-installation and return of works to lenders for the exhibition, Sculpture in Painting, 2010.

Documentation and creation of inventory of entire art collections; advice on care and storage.

Advice on collections management and documentation for donation to the Borough Road Gallery, South Bank University; consultancy on gallery design and environmental conditions, 2008–2014.

Management of project to inventory, document and photograph over 12,000 works of art, 2009.