Spring 2012 - Dress and Textile Specialists

powerful images! The three below are by a photographer called Male and are lent by the National
Museum of Mali.
From Wednesday 15 Feb until June 30 2012, the large 18th century display will be reconfigured with
interventions led by a group of young people in collaboration with the Stories of the World project.
Smart new cases made by Mayveart, a Belgian company, have been installed in the 17th century
gallery and with new outfits and pieces chosen for display, including a remarkable pink silk bodice
embroidered with a feather design in black bugle beads, and dating to the 1650s, from March 2012.
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Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Market Square, Preston, PR1 2PP www.harrismuseum.org.uk
Uthra Rajgopal has been working at the Harris Museum on the
Preston Guild costume collection. The photo shows Uthra working
on a Venetian fancy dress costume, as worn by the Guild
Mayoress, Mabel Astley-Bell in the 1922 Guild. This costume, along
with other pieces from the collection, including diary accounts,
ephemera and photographs will go on display on 27th July 2012 at
the Harris Museum. The exhibition has been designed to mark this
year's Preston Guild celebrations and will take a look at how
'dressing up' for pageants, costume balls and trades processions all
played an integral part in reinforcing civic pride in the town. The
Preston Guild is celebrated every twenty years and the town was
first granted its Royal Charter in 1179. Uthra has been working
alongside Stephanie Murfin who is now the acting Keeper of
Decorative Arts while Caroline Alexander is on maternity leave.
Anthea Jarvis will also be visiting the Harris to look at the collection
in March. Uthra Rajgopal has been generously supported by a
research grant provided by the Coats Foundation Trust.
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Lotherton Hall, Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds, LS25 3EB www.leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall
The Victorian Look Book - Fashion and Furnishings 1837-1901
2 March 2012 to 31 January 2013
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