We all try and do our best to celebrate our anniversaries in creative ways, but some museums mark theirs with very special events. The Museo del Tessuto (Textile Museum) in Prato is getting ready to celebrate its 40th birthday for example with a compact but well researched exhibition.
Set to open in November in the museum room dedicated to antique textiles (considered as the treasure room of the institution), the event is entitled "Heritage. Storie di tessuti e di moda" (Heritage. Textile and Fashion Stories) and includes rare pieces (textiles, clothes, accessories, books, drawings, illustrations and prints; some of these pieces were recently restored) from the 1500s on, selected from the museum collections.
The items included were chosen following one main criteria – they all tell interesting stories about art, fashion, style and manufacturing processes.
Among the other examples there will also be William Morris' Strawberry Thief, originally designed to be used for interior elements such as curtains, walls and upholstery, and Silver Studio's designs inspired by Japonisme, a trend the studio developed from 1885 in collaboration with Alexander Rottman, well regarded businessman and print, drawing and katagami importer from Japan.
One of Silver Studio's designs (featuring a floral motif in soft pastel shades on a salmon pink background) selected for this event was inspired by Harry Napper's works and was put into production by Stead McAlpin in 1897. Silver Studio developed between 1880 and 1963 interior design fabrics and wallpapers, rugs and stationery with famous designers such as John Illingworth Kay, Harry Napper and Archibald Knox.
The centre piece for this exhibition remains the court dess that belonged to Maria Giuseppina Gaetani dell'Aquila d'Aragona, a Neapolitan noblewoman married to Ferdinando Nunziante.
The gown was part of a wardrobe comprising eight gowns designed and made to be donned at official events at the Bourbon court. Characterised by a tight bodice with a pointed waist that forms a bell-shaped skirt, the dress featured a rich and elaborate decorative motif with metallic embroideries that allow to date it from around the mid-19th century. The red and blue silk fabric was a reference to the symbolic colours of the Bourbon court and so were the golden embroideries that include olive and oak branches and lilies (symbols of the Bourbon-D'Angiò family).
Fashion illustration fans will definitely prefer the sketches and works penned by Ernest Henry Michahelles, better known as Thayaht the creator of the "tuta" (overalls). The exhibition includes indeed also sketches he did for Madeleine Vionnet. Thayaht's drawings were influenced by art movements and exotic trends launched by the Ballets Russes, and they were often published on La Gazette du Bon Ton.
Apart from being an intriguing option for textile and fashion fans, "Heritage" will prove tremendously interesting for budding novelists and writers on the lookout for unusual plots. Uncovering the fascinating stories hidden behind some of the textiles and illustrations featured in this exhibition will definitely be one of the most exciting aspects for many visitors.
"Heritage. Storie di tessuti e di moda" (Heritage. Textile and Fashion Stories), Museo del Tessuto, Via Puccetti 3, Prato, Italy, 22nd November 2015 – 30th April 2016.
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