Section 11:
Display
|
Collection level record
General |
| Title |
Museum
of Costume, Bath |
| Identifier |
|
| Description |
This
museum is designated for the pre-eminent importance of its costume collection,
which is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of fashionable
dress in Britain. The collections focus on fashionable dress for men,
women and children from the late 16th century to the present
day. |
| Description
(brief) |
This
museum tells the story of fashion over the last 400 years. Displays
feature more than 150 figures dressed in garments from the collection. |
| Description
(full) |
This
important costume collection divides into several elements: early dress,
before 1800; the 19th century; modern dress; and dress accessories
and underclothes. The modern collection is strong in the work of 20th
century British designers, although it includes the work of leading
designers from Europe, the United States and Japan.
Included
in the collection are several rare pieces by Lucille, Lady Duff Gordon,
the first London couturiere to be recognised as a dress designer in
her own right at the beginning of the 20th century. Norman
Hartnell is also well represented, as are the design houses of Christian
Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.
Vogue
magazine donated to the museum a collection of 60 ensembles of clothes
each one contributed by one of the currently influential designers of
1991. This collection gives a snapshot of fashion design over the world
in one particular year.
The
Fashion Research Centre is an extension of the Museum of Costume and
provides facilities for reference and research into the history of dress.
The study collection includes examples of costume, accessories, textiles
and needlework of 18th to 20th century date. The
Research Centre offers access to its facilities to all members of the
public. |
| Strength |
Costume:
designated museum scheme (Resource) |
| Physical
Characteristics |
Coats,
Dress accessories, Footwear, Gloves, Hats, Hosiery, Dresses, Underwear |
| Language |
|
| Type |
Collection.Museum.Physical
Object.Subject |
| Access
Control |
Permanent
display and special exhibitions can be seen during opening hours. Contact
Curator to arrange study visits. |
| Accrual
Status |
Open,
active, purchase and donation |
| Accrual
Status
(full) |
There
are currently 30,000 items. The Museum continues to collect items through
both purchase and donation. |
| Legal
Status |
Founded
in 1963. |
| Custodial
History |
Private collection of Doris Langley Moore OBE, a distinguished
collector, designer and historian of costume, was donated to the
City of Bath in 1963 and was founded as the Museum of Costume.
The
Lady Ottoline Morrell collection was purchased in March 2000 with a
grant from the National Art Collections Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund
and the Museums & Galleries Commission / Victoria & Albert Museum
Purchase Fund.
The
Spence collection of gloves is on loan from the Worshipful Company of
Glovers of London. |
| Note
(1) |
Special
exhibitions take place in addition to the permanent displays. A range
of study services is available, with access to items not currently on
display, books from the reference library and archival materials. Full
details on application to the Curator. |
| Note
(2) |
The
Museum offers educational visits with activities tailored for National
Curriculum keystages 1, 2 and 3. |
| Location |
|
Subject |
| Concept |
Clothing
and dress (lcsh)
Costume
(lcsh) |
| Object |
Coats
(lcsh)
Dress
accessories (lcsh)
Footwear
(lcsh)
Gloves
(lcsh)
Hosiery
(lcsh)
Millinery
(lcsh)
Dresses
(lcsh)
Underwear
(lcsh) |
| Name |
Christian
Dior, 1905-1957
Lucille,
Lady Duff Gordon (Lucy Christiana Sutherland) 1863-1935
Norman
Hartnell, 1901-1979
Doris
Langley Moore, 1902-1989
Lady
Ottoline Morrell, 1873-1938
Yves
Saint Laurent, 1936- |
| Place |
|
| Time |
1575/
[from statement ‘late 16th century’] |
Date |
| Accumulation
Date Range |
1945/
[assumption of when D.L. Moore started collecting] |
| Contents
Date Range |
1575/
[from statement ‘late 16th century’] |
Associated
Agents |
| Creator |
Doris
Langley Moore |
| Owner |
Bath
and North East Somerset Council |
External
Relationships |
| Sub-collection |
Dress
of the Year Collection
Harborow
Collection [duplicate royal coronation gloves]
Lady
Ottoline Morrell’s Collection
Museum
of Costume Study Facility
Spence
Collection [gloves] |
| Super-collection |
|
| Catalogue
or description |
|
| Described
collection |
|
| Associated
collection |
|
| Associated
publication |
|
Location
General |
| Name |
Assembly
Rooms, Bath |
| Identifier |
|
| Access
Conditions
(hours) |
The
Museum is open every day (except 25 & 26 December) from 10.00 to
16.30 (last exit at 17.00). |
| Access
Conditions
(charges) |
Admission
charges are: adult £5.50, senior citizens & students £4.50, children
£3.75. Bath and North East Somerset schools and local residents are
admitted free on proof of residence. |
| Access
Conditions
(tour
guides) |
The
Acoustiguide is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish,
Dutch and Japanese. |
| Access
Conditions
(disabled
access) |
The
building is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there is a specially
adapted toilet for disabled visitors. A wheelchair is available for
use. A ‘T’ switch attachment for the audio guide is available to visitors
with hearing difficulties. Alternatively, a copy of the audio tour text
(with reading torch) can be provided to read during the visit. |
| Held
collection |
Museum
of Costume, Bath |
| See
also |
Website:
http://www.museumofcostume.co.uk/ |
Physical
Location |
| Postal
address |
Assembly
Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath |
| Post/zip
code |
BA1
2QH |
| Country |
UK |
Online
Location |
| Locator |
Not
applicable as this is a physical collection |
Associated
Agent: Administrator
General |
| Name |
Penelope
Ruddock |
| Identifier |
|
| Organisation
name |
Bath
and North East Somerset Council |
| Role |
Curator,
Museum of Costume |
| Telephone
number |
01225
477 789 |
| Fax
number |
01225
444 793 |
| Email
address |
costume_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk |
| Agent
History |
|
Associated
Agent: Creator
General |
| Name |
Doris
Langley Moore |
| Identifier |
|
| Organisation
name |
[not
applicable] |
| Role |
[not
applicable] |
| Telephone
number |
|
|
