Condition check with Nora Leijen: Mae West Lips Sofa

The most iconic lips in the world? After a series of touring exhibitions, Dalí’s Mae West Lips Sofa has returned to Rotterdam. Have a look behind-the-scenes with Nora Leijen (registrar applied arts and design) during a condition check at the Depot.

The museum's collection of surrealism is not limited to paintings and sculptures. In recent decades, a number of design objects have also been purchased, such as White Aphrodisiac Telephone (1936) and Mae West Lips Sofa (1938), both made by Salvador Dalí. In this 'behind the scenes' Nora talks about registrars, applied art and design, condition checks and the famous sofa.

How did you end up at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen?

In 2011, I began as an archive employee at Boijmans. I quickly became a project manager for exhibitions, which also allowed me to get to know all the departments better. After holding various positions for 2 years, I became a registrar of applied arts and design. It’s a challenging position, and I’m still learning every day. Fortunately, my great team and the versatile sub-collection make every day interesting and varied.

What does a registrar do?

As a registrar you manage a sub-collection and coordinate all activities with it. I assess loan requests, organise transport, assist with installations, and take care of restoration if necessary. I also support curators with research and knowledge sharing, manage TMS, and work with colleagues on improvements to the depot. Finally, I advise on the handling of works and, together with the head of restoration and conservation, set up major conservation projects.

What’s part of applied art and design?

The applied art and design department consists of more than 50,000 pieces, ranging from medieval consumer goods to contemporary design. Consider items such as cooking pots, dishes, furniture, fashion, ceramics and glass. These show the evolution from everyday objects to unique works of art, where the time, makers and the development of new techniques and materials are clearly visible. That's what makes it such a fun field.

What’s the importance of condition checks?

Condition checks are crucial to monitor the condition of an object. As a museum, we want to preserve works of art for both current audiences and future generations. Works can be damaged if they are loaned out regularly or exposed to light and dust. Through condition checks we can intervene in time, advise to travel less, and apply treatments to increase sustainability. Some materials degrade naturally, the effects of which become visible over time. By investigating this we can better anticipate the future. A baseline measurement of condition during travel is essential so that any damage during exhibitions or transport can be tracked. This is important for the insurance, but also for us. We can then decide to do it differently next time, or not even lend it out anymore.

How does it feel to work with such iconic artworks?

Applied art includes everyday objects from different centuries, which is fascinating because it provides insight into daily life, customs and socio-historical aspects. Working with icons from the collection is honourable, but of course also a daily task. We give the same care to both icons and other objects. I remember traveling with the Tower of Babel, and having to install it in Vienna. It’s such an iconic and valuable work that you shouldn't think about it too much, otherwise you will become very nervous!

Interesting facts about Mae West Lips Sofa?

Dalí’s lips sofa was designed in various versions for the home of his patron and friend Edward James. A twin of our sofa is known from a museum in Brighton. Unfortunately, our sofa was in poor condition, with tears and moth damage to the original fabric, when we bought it at auction. The restoration process included removing the covering, adding support material and careful maintenance. The nearly 100-year-old fabric is very vulnerable to light, dust and dirt, meaning the sofa travels to a limited extent to preserve its original condition. To minimise exposure to dust, the sofa is also placed in a display case during exhibitions. It has recently been in New Zealand, South Korea and Mexico, but has now finally returned to Rotterdam.