2020-03-01 The Simple Things

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