In a message dated 8/25/05 6:22:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> I was talking with a friend today and she told me that the V & A will be > receiving funds for revamping itself. Does anyone know if the lace rooms > will be > revamped or even retained? > Well, Devon, I do not know about details for the future. I tried to do a Search, and kept going to unrelated sites. *Perhaps someone with more skill than I have can succeed in finding a press release.* However, recently they did a huge remodeling of space, and reopened the British Galleries 1500-1900. This was the largest project that the V&A had undertaken since its staff reinstalled the entire Museum in 1947-52, after the evacuation of objects to safe storage during the Second World War. The book "Design & the Decorative Arts - Britain 1500-1900", by Michael Snodin and John Styles was published by the V&A (Distributed by Abrams Publishers in North America), to be released when the new galleries opened in 2002, ISBN 0-8109-6586-0. I just got on the scales without the book, then with the book - it seems to weigh in at 9 pounds. Cost $75. 488 pages. I wrote a report of this book to Arachne on December 26, 2004, in connection with correspondence about the Margaret Laton Jacket that is trimmed with gold lace. This was a subject of interest to you, because the jacket is documented by a portrait that is now (finally) in the same exhibit case as the jacket. What is interesting is that the lace in the portrait is not the same as the lace that is now sewn on the jacket. For scholars on Arachne, the book is divided into 3 sections, and is packed with color photos and interesting history: Tudor & Stuart Britain 1500-1714 Georgian Britain 1714-1837 Victorian Britain 1837-1901 This book should be in the library at the Metropolitan Museum, and might still be for sale in the museum's bookshop, Devon. Look, and you will see a level of professionalism that one could only wish were possible in all museums. Qualtity is exceptional. If this is any example of what might happen to the lace and embroidery galleries, I do not think you have cause for concern. Indeed, the laces and embroideries will probably benefit from more protection from people and the environment. I have visited these galleries several times, and found conditions to be rather lax, and laces to be soiled. Did not someone (Jean Peach?) write that some items had been stolen and these particular galleries have been closed until a solution can be found for proper exhibition? Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace & Embroidery Resource Center - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
