Bret S. Headley is a conservator of furniture and picture frames in private practice. He began his career as part of a family of American furniture makers with a tradition that has lasted more than five generations. After completing an apprenticeship in cabinetmaking and Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bret worked in the Curatorial Department of the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley as they expanded from a historic house and gardens into a regional museum. His interest in craftsmanship and museum studies fully converged in graduate school at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation.

Bret completed his studies at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a graduate intern, Mellon fellow, and finally a project conservator. His background had provided ample experience in wood carving and inlay, however, it was not until his work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art that gilding became a focus as well. Bret continues to be active in his field as a working conservator, a lecturer for graduate students. He has presented at the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and has consulted on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for major institutions. The philosophies of preservation and conservation guide his treatments and have pushed him to seek ethical, environmentally friendly solutions that allow the objects he treats to retain their value and history while extending their life and usefulness.

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