The_Simple_Things_-_March_2020

(Dana P.) #1
purely just a ‘hobby’. (She later founded the
Crafts Study Centre in Farnham, Surrey,
csc.uca.ac.uk). Muriel supported now well-
known ceramicists, such as Bernard Leach
and Lucie Rie, and was key in the selling of
traditional quilts, made in rural Wales and
Count y Durha m, to prest ige client s. These
beautiful designs were deemed chic enough
to grace the rooms of the likes of Claridge’s.

MORE THAN OBJECTS
Collections may be put aside, or stored away, but
they are not sealed off from our world. Edith’s
collection was, for her, deeply rooted in the
cultures that created them. She nursed during
the Balkan Wars and was a spokesperson, back in
Britain, for the people caught up in the conf lict.
Her actions meant she was heralded as a heroine
in A lba n ia. It wa s, “a n aw f ul responsibilit y to be
fallen in love with by a whole nation,” she noted.
Cur rent ly, w it h m in ima lism back in fa sh ion
again, it’s worth remembering the joy that can
come from surrounding ourselves with things
that we love. The painter and designer Enid
Marx collected British ‘folk art’ with her partner
Margaret Lambert, displaying them around
their home (now held at Compton Verney,
Warwickshire, comptonverney.org.uk). It not
only inf luenced her own designs, but helped
preser ve such t h ing s when no one else va lued
them. One of Enid’s earliest collections was of
ribbons. “I never did anything with them except
hoard them,” she confessed. Sometimes we just
collect things just because we love them.

(She later founded t he

Some of Olive
Matthews’ bargain
finds: (left) a silk
‘Spencer’ (1817–19)
and (below) a
brocade shoe
(1735–45).

Ties, dated
from 1920–30,
as gathered
by Enid Marx.

Whitworth Art Gallery,
University of Manchester
(whitworth.manchester.ac.uk)
Curator Jennifer Harris emphasised
collecting contemporary art textiles
from the 1980s, through to 2016.
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery,
Bradford (bradfordmuseums.org)
Celebrated for its collection of South
Asian textiles, acquired by curator
Nima Poovaya-Smith (also featured
in the ‘Unbound’ exhibition).
Totnes Fashion and Textile
Museum, Devon (totftm.org)
Founded in 1967, this museum
brings together the discoveries
of three collectors.
Harris Museum, Preston
(harrismuseum.org.uk)
More than 6,000 items, including
fab 1950s frocks courtesy of local
manufacturer Horrockses Fashions.
The Bowes Museum, Barnard
Castle (thebowesmuseum.org.uk)
From shoes belonging to the
Empress Eugénie to contemporary
couture, and some showstopping
exhibitions to boot.
The Silk Museum, Macclesfield
(macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk)
The story of Macclesfield’s silk
industry, from loom to garment.
Dalgarven Mill Museum, North
Ayrshire (dalgarvenmill.org.uk)
Not just restored mill buildings, more
than 3,000 objects in their costume
collection that reflect all walks
of life since the 18th century.

Unbound: Visionary Women Collecting Textiles is at Two
Temple Place, London, until 19 April. twotempleplace.org

OTHER TEXTILE AND
DRESS COLLECTIONS
WORTH A VISIT

Olive
Matthews

Enid
Marx

purelyjusta ‘hobby’.(Shelaterfoundedthe
CraftsStudyCentreinFarnham,Surrey,
csc.uca.ac.uk).Murielsupportednowwell-
knownceramicists,suchasBernardLeach
andLucieRie,andwaskeyinthesellingof
traditionalquilts,madeinruralWalesand
Count yDurha m,toprest igeclient s.These
beautifuldesignsweredeemedchicenough
togracetheroomsofthelikesofClaridge’s.


MORETHANOBJECTS
Collectionsmaybeputaside,orstoredaway,but
theyarenotsealedofffromourworld.Edith’s
collectionwas,forher,deeplyrootedinthe
culturesthatcreatedthem.Shenursedduring
theBalkanWarsandwasa spokesperson,backin
Britain,forthepeoplecaughtupintheconf lict.
Heractionsmeantshewasheraldedasa heroine
inA lba n ia .It wa s,“a naw f ulresponsibilit ytobe
falleninlovewithbya wholenation,”shenoted.
Cur rent ly,w it hm in ima lismbackinfa sh ion
again,it’sworthrememberingthejoythatcan
comefromsurroundingourselveswiththings
thatwelove.ThepainteranddesignerEnid
MarxcollectedBritish‘folkart’withherpartner
MargaretLambert,displayingthemaround
theirhome(nowheldatComptonVerney,
Warwickshire,comptonverney.org.uk).It not
onlyinf luencedherowndesigns,buthelped
preser vesucht h ing swhennooneelseva lued
them.OneofEnid’searliestcollectionswasof
ribbons.“Ineverdidanythingwiththemexcept
hoardthem,”sheconfessed.Sometimeswejust
collectthingsjustbecausewelovethem.


(She later founded t he

SomeofOlive
Matthews’bargain
finds:(left)a silk
‘Spencer’(1817–19)
and(below)a
brocadeshoe
(1735–45).

Ties,dated
from1920–30,
asgathered
byEnidMarx.

WhitworthArtGallery,
Universityof Manchester
(whitworth.manchester.ac.uk)
CuratorJenniferHarrisemphasised
collectingcontemporaryarttextiles
fromthe1980s,throughto 2016.
CartwrightHallArtGallery,
Bradford(bradfordmuseums.org)
Celebratedforitscollectionof South
Asiantextiles,acquiredbycurator
NimaPoovaya-Smith(alsofeatured
in the‘Unbound’ exhibition).
TotnesFashionandTextile
Museum,Devon(totftm.org)
Foundedin 1967,thismuseum
bringstogetherthediscoveries
of threecollectors.
HarrisMuseum,Preston
(harrismuseum.org.uk)
Morethan6,000items,including
fab1950sfrockscourtesyof local
manufacturerHorrocksesFashions.
TheBowesMuseum,Barnard
Castle(thebowesmuseum.org.uk)
Fromshoesbelongingto the
EmpressEugénieto contemporary
couture,andsomeshowstopping
exhibitionsto boot.
TheSilkMuseum,Macclesfield
(macclesfieldmuseums.co.uk)
Thestoryof Macclesfield’ssilk
industry,fromloomto garment.
DalgarvenMillMuseum,North
Ayrshire(dalgarvenmill.org.uk)
Notjustrestoredmillbuildings,more
than3,000objectsin theircostume
collectionthatreflectall walks
of lifesincethe18thcentury.

Unbound: Visionary Women Collecting Textiles is at Two
Temple Place, London, until 19 April. twotempleplace.org


OTHER TEXTILE AND
DRESS COLLECTIONS
WORTH A VISIT

Olive
Matthews

Enid
Marx
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