Embellished: The Art of Fabulous Fabrics

Embellished: the Art of Fabulous Fabrics – 14 November 2009 – November 2010

Take a closer look at textile patterns and techniques in our new Costume Gallery exhibition. From delicately embroidered florals to bold geometric prints, the clothes we wear transform us into living works of art. Some of the museum’s most beautiful textiles, patterned by weaving, embroidery and printing will be on display. Whether it’s flowers and foliage, spots and stripes or glamorous ladies, you’ll find textile designs to suit all tastes. To add a bit of bling, there’s even a section devoted to fabrics embellished in glittering gold.

Many of the exhibits are hidden treasures from our museum stores, which have never been seen before, such as an 18th century gown in the finest Spitalfields silk and a wall-hanging designed by the artist Walter Crane. Exquisite examples of embroidery include pieces from Europe, India, China and Turkey, dating from the 1600s to the modern day.