What with rain and storms and waiting for plumbers and waiting for deliveries, I've only been as far as the dustbin for what feels like days and days - so by 6pm tonight I was feeling cabin fever and fortunately it was late opening at Two Temple Place. Bliss, there was hardly anyone there ...
And this exhibition of women textile collectors turned up one lovely thing after another. Including this silk taffeta spencer that looked as if it should have been worn by Emma. Or maybe, given the military-style epaulettes, by Lydia Bennet.
Of seven collectors featured, five were unmarried ... no surprises there, with time and money to do their own thing.
I'd never heard of Edith Durham who travelled to the Balkans in 1900, when she was 37, to recuperate after years of nursing her invalid mother. She returned year after year, travelling on horseback with local guides, 'wearing a waterproof burberry skirt and a Scotch plaid cape,' collecting textiles and nursing wounded soldiers - and generally being an indomitable spinster!
These are her peasant shoes, made of twine and oil-soaked hide, in which she walked many miles.
Olive Matthews (1887-1979) became interested when, as a child she inherited this huge linen handkerchief from her great-great-grandmother Susanna Pearce - commemorating a visit to Drury Lane Theatre on July 9, 1774 - along with Susanna's shoe buckles, black silk shoes and prayer book.
She began collecting at the age of 12, with her 2s6d weekly allowance from her father; which struck me as tremendously generous as 2s6d was still the going rate for pocket money when I was 12 in the 1960s. Olive was initially interested in collecting furniture but that was discouraged for reasons of space. Probably just as well, as her textile collection eventually numbered 3,000 items. Her treasures were found mostly on London markets and she prided herself on never paying more than £5. It did make me wonder what the person with an eye and a limited budget should be collecting today.
Lovely little exhibition - and it's free to get in. Cabin fever assuaged - though tomorrow I'm back to waiting for the plumber!
You have my sympathy re: the plumber. I waited two weeks to get a new boiler fitted after my old one died. Thank goodness for a partner with a spare bedroom!
ReplyDeleteThe 'spencer' is stunning.
He finally turned up this morning - when I was still in bed!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous picture. I'm watching the TV series abiut the V&A, Behind the Scenes at the Museum and the best sections are about clothes. Shallow, moi?
ReplyDeleteI've only seen the first episode but I agree the best bits were about that fabulous Dior exhibition.
ReplyDeleteOooh, I'd like to see that. Although I probably won't, since I'm not going to be in London for a while and when I am, my small squashy granddaughter is even more interesting. I'm glad the plumber did come. I hope he plumbed satisfactorily.
ReplyDeleteWhen do they ever, Pam? He came - plumbed - leak reappeared - stood me up next day without a phone call -and now he's supposed to be coming back tomorrow, just to slice yet another day in two!
ReplyDeleteThe exhibition is on for a while. They used to have lovely dressing-up clothes there (and sometimes a chocolate treasure hunt) for small, squashy children - don't know whether this is still on offer as my small squashy friends are suddenly taller than I am!