This April don’t miss visiting English textile historian Annabel Westman’s fascinating lecture on the State Bed and the significant role that textiles played in creating drama in the English Country House.
The Melville state bed, c. 1697, Victoria and Albert Museum
‘Splendid Magnificence: Textiles and the State Bed in the English Country House’
A remarkable number of state beds survive in the English country house which give a glimpse into a lost world of sumptuous splendour and ceremony. The majority date between 1670 and 1730 when they were regarded as great symbols of prestige and status. Money was lavished on their textile hangings making them easily the single most expensive item of furniture in the fashionable and wealthy household.
Annabel is an independent textile historian specialising in the restoration of historic interiors. She has worked on a wide range of significant projects, carrying out research on the original furnishing schemes and advising on their implementation. In addition to privately owned historic houses, she has worked regularly for heritage bodies including English Heritage, The National Trust, Historic Royal Palaces, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
She is also Director of Studies for The Attingham Trust, an educational charity founded in 1952 for the study of historic houses and collections.
I was lucky enough to attend the Attingham Summer School in 2007, and can recommend Annabel as an engaging, fascinating and extremely knowledgable speaker.
Auckland War Memorial Museum (Auditorium), Auckland Monday 11 April 6pm
The Suter Gallery (Theatre), Nelson Wednesday13 April, 6.30pm
Bookings: info@thesuter.org.nz Tel: 03 548 4699
Te Papa (Soundings Theatre), Wellington Sunday 17 April, 4.30pm
Bookings: friends@tepapa.govt.nz Tel: 04 381 7051
Admission Public $15 , Friends of MA, Suter, Te Papa and Auckland Museum $10
THIS LECTURE SERIES IS PRESENTED BY MUSEUMS AOTEAROA
