Exhibit of the Month

An important selection of costume from the Elizabeth Ann Harthill Collection, dating from the late 1700s to 1970, went on sale at Brightwells Auction House.  The museum was successful, thanks to a generous donation from the Friends, in purchasing three lots for the costume collection.  These items are rarely found in such good condition and will enhance and strengthen our costume and social history collection.  They also are an invaluable resource to our Costume Project, which uses original costume as a reference. Furthermore, they extend the scope of the Museum’s interactive Design and Technology Centre – Enginuity, as they are excellent examples of structures and materials. 

Caleche
This is a beautiful and rare example of a caleche, made from cane hoops covered with black silk with a glazed pink cotton lining. The caleche is a large bonnet that is pulled up and over the hair by a piece of ribbon, like the hood of a carriage.  It dates from c.1780 and comes from the French word calèche, meaning carriage.

Corset
This is a French lace edged cream embroidered corset c.1850. It is a particularly lovely example and demonstrates the structures employed to create and define the shape of the body.  It is unusual as it is woven from one piece of fabric and does not have any seams.  The museum did not have a corset in its collection so this is a particularly exciting addition.

1920s collection of hats
These four hats from the 1920s are wonderful examples; each demonstrates a different method of construction that is used in millinery.  The Costume Project is currently working with Enginuity to develop a Hats Loans box and these are a fantastic research resource. 

Many thanks to the Friends for enabling us to acquire these items, it is wonderful that they can be kept in the local area, and it is hoped that they will go on display in Enginuity in the near future.