Conservation of a Pale Green House of Worth Ballgown (Part 2) Having focused mainly on the skirt conservation in my previous Conservation Story about this gown, I would like to turn now to the bodice. While similarly dishevelled in state to the skirt, its return to splendour posed a completely different set of conservation conundrums. …
Hidden Treasures
Between 2015 and 2018, we had the very great pleasure of undertaking the de-installation, conservation and re-installation of 12 costumed funeral effigies for display in Westminster Abbey’s new galleries …
Mounting two Beatrices
A new display at Smallhythe House, Ellen Terry’s Tudor cottage now in the care of the National Trust, opened just before the whole world stopped because of the pandemic. Even though it has not been possible for visitors to see the new season’s display yet we we would like to share some of our insights …
Doggett’s uniforms at Fishmonger’s
The Doggett’s Race, a four mile race on the Thames passing under 11 bridges began in 1715 and is believed to be the oldest continually competed sporting event in the world. Started by Thomas Doggett, manager of the Drury Lane Theatre the race taken over by the Fishmongers’ Livery Company after his death in 1722. …
Royal Courts of Justice Legal and Judicial Costume Collection
This article by our former administrator Victoria Haddock was first published in the Costume Society Newsletter, Autumn 2019 – you can follow our progress on Instagram @legallydressed_rcj. In 2018, Zenzie Tinker was delighted to be appointed as the Advisor for Conservation and Display of the Legal Costume Collection at the Royal Courts of Justice in …
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Charleston: Orlando at the Present Time
Charleston’s inaugural exhibition held in the Wolfson Galleries opened in September 2018 with ‘Orlando at the Present Time’, marking the 90 years since the first publication of Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando: A Biography. The exhibition included contemporary interpretations alongside rarely seen letters, photographs and objects connected to the original publication of the novel. Also on …
The Scotney Queen of Hearts
For its winter exhibition ‘Inside the Collection’ Scotney Castle celebrates ten years of public access by delving into its own stores for inspiration. This card-adorned fancy dress costume was recently uncovered in the castle’s costume collection, worn and accumulated by the Hussey family from the late eighteenth century until the house was left to the …
Leon Bakst, Le Dieu Bleu Diaghilev Ballets Russes costume
The project in detail From a private collection of early 20th Century dance costumes, this Temple Servant tunic from the ballet Le Dieu Bleu, performed by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes, was designed by Leon Bakst. Required to go on loan for display, it was structurally weak from moth damage and had also suffered water damage and …
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