One
glass case, some vintage underpinnings, assorted haberdashery and a dash of nostalgia
gives you THE LADIES EMPORIUM at HENFIELD MUSEUM
 |
| The Ladies Emporium |
I
have gathered together a miscellany from Henfields stock that says Drapers Window to me. A drapers with a
difference. A drapers window that mixes not just garments but swirls in a bit
of time travel too.
There
are some lace trimmed Victorian unmentionables and a pair of drawers from the
1940s. A Victorian black lace and taffeta yoked cape.
An Edwardian nightgown, ladies combinations and assorted silk stockings. Shoes from the 1920s. Hat pins from the 1940s . Long steel hat pins with military buttons forming the top. Lace still on its original card from Tobitts Drapers and a hat brush with ‘Tobitts’ stamped on the handle. This shop was trading in Henfield from 1858 until the last family member died in 1953. Between 1909 and 1913 Henfield had another drapers and outfitters, ‘Cordery Brothers’. In the case are two pieces of their brown wrapping paper emblazoned with the shop address.
An Edwardian nightgown, ladies combinations and assorted silk stockings. Shoes from the 1920s. Hat pins from the 1940s . Long steel hat pins with military buttons forming the top. Lace still on its original card from Tobitts Drapers and a hat brush with ‘Tobitts’ stamped on the handle. This shop was trading in Henfield from 1858 until the last family member died in 1953. Between 1909 and 1913 Henfield had another drapers and outfitters, ‘Cordery Brothers’. In the case are two pieces of their brown wrapping paper emblazoned with the shop address.
The exquisite
detail that home seamstresses sewed into their work stands out in the details on
the Victorian and Edwardian underwear and nightgown. There is handmade lace, pin
tucks, white work and broderie anglaise. One pair of ladies combinations was
made by a Miss Tobitt from the Tobitt Drapers family. They formed part of her
trousseau. A trousseau that was never worn. I don’t know why.
In
the right hand corner there’s a faded paisley shawl from 1860 that was worn to
a wedding, and in the left corner….I couldn’t have a display with out a dress.
So a beautiful mauve satin dress is displayed in all its beaded glory. An
Edwardian evening gown, the elbow length sleeves are split along their length and
gathered together by velvet bands. Gold beads form fringing at the hem and
brilliants wind through the beads to create sparkling panels of embroidery.
So
here is my interpretation of a drapers window. Enormous fun to do and a real
pleasure to be had in showing off some of the smaller pieces in Henfields
collection.
Incidentally,
if you look, the mauve evening gown is priced at a very reasonable Sale Price
of 6/11. This dream bargain is courtesy of a sign from Tobitts Drapers that was
found when their old premises were being refurbished. 35p is a bit of a snip…..
