25 April 2016

An Afternoon With Edwardian Elegance.




Look what I found in the costume store in Henfield Museum
I was on the track of items Edwardian… dresses, blouses and stoles.  






This old gold dress is in two parts…the front panel is completely separate. You tie it on like an apron. I suspect that the 'apron' and a missing bodice front were designed to be swapped for other fabrics to change and vary the look.




Having dressed the mannequin I dug deeper and accessorised the ensemble with a red silk parasol that took up the colour of the embroidered red flowers on the fabric of the dress, sadly the silk on the parasol is shattered, but the colour and style still shine.




Shawl next. Cream silk embroidery on a cream silk background.
When I placed it round the shoulders of the model, see how perfectly it draped. The fringe fell just so. 
Add a small white crocheted Dorothy bag and Voila.
Madame Edwardian is ready for her public.






                        

This pink and lace confection must have been stunning when it was made. Very sadly the silk in the skirt has failed, but the bodice….even seen en déshabillé..is exquisite. 







I like this photo with that bodice front and centre, the Edwardian ensemble behind it and behind that a 1930s wedding dress…







Then there was the Edwardian blouse which had pin tucks, lace, crocheted 
French knots for fastenings which all together added up to a wonderful confection of style, daintiness and seamstresses skill.









This shot epitomises how diverse and interesting a museum can be. There's the Edwardian outfit, and behind it a dolls pram, the corner of the wedding dress case, some local prints, the (working) clock mechanism late of  the Village Assembly rooms and don't let us forget the rack of tuned shepherds crooks just visible on the left….














Looking the other way you can see how full the museum is of things to discover, investigate and be fascinated by.







This extravaganza was instigated by the promised visit of two lovely ladies from Preston Manor in Brighton and was designed to show them what Henfield Museum has tucked away in its boxes and cupboards and cases. I relished finding Edwardian items to show them. And so I opened boxes, gently removed tissue paper and brought out items of elegance and age.




I supplied costume details and Alan the Curator details on everything else they saw, including the Violet nurseries memorabilia…but that’s another story.




Henfield Museum

http://www.henfieldhub.com/henfield-museum


Preston Manor is a gem of a house to visit. You really feel as if the family are just in the other room. Perfectly furnished and set in the Edwardian era, there is a great deal to see.
My personal favourite is visiting the world of' 'Downstairs', as well as 'Upstairs'
Situated on the outskirts of Brighton, on the fringes of  Preston Park,  Do go. It's lovely.

http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/prestonmanor/










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