Historic fashion photographs go online as the Museum hosts its first London Fashion Week show
05 September 2011
As we approach London Fashion Week, the Museum of London launches an online collection of early twentieth-century fashion photography from the studios of Bassano Limited. The launch coincides with the Museum hosting its first ever professional catwalk show for innovative fashion designer Christopher Raeburn.
The Bassano Fashion Photography Collection consists of over 3,000 glass negative plates documenting clothing, fashion and accessories taken at the studios of Bassano Limited in London between c. 1912 and 1945.
The plates document the expansion from society portraiture with which Alexander Bassano established his name, to the newer world of advertising and editorial shots. The images record a wide range of fashions, designers and retailers including Selfridges, Harrods, Cartier, Burberry and Aquascutum.
The plates are now available to view via the Museum's Collections online web portal.
Friday 16 September sees a top British talent come to the Museum of London. An exclusive evening of contemporary fashion and glamour is guaranteed as Christopher Raeburn reveals his spring/summer 2012 collection for London Fashion Week. Christopher and his team will take over the Museum’s Sackler Hall and Linbury Gallery for an innovative twist on collection presentation. Raeburn said: “the Museum of London is an incredible venue and hidden gem within the city. This is a really exciting show as we will be doing something completely new. Furthermore, the museum’s collections hold an outstanding wealth of fashion and social history items.”
This collection is explored in a series of entertaining and informative blog posts from the Museum’s Senior Curator of Fashion and Decorative Arts Beatrice Behlen.
From World War II uniforms for women and the c.1900 dancing shoes of thrice-married international performer and friend of the stars Kitty Lord, to blogs on millinery, gold lamé wigs, cane ribbons and the 18th century style for wearing two watches - are just some of the topics covered by Beatrice.
Notes to Editors
1. For more information or images, please contact John Joyce on jjoyce@museumoflondon.org.uk / 020 7814 5504.
2. Explore the Museum of London 24/7 with Collections online: the home on our website to over 7,000 objects with more being added.
3. Italian-born Alexander B. Bassano established his first photography studio in Regent Street, London, in 1850. He moved to Piccadilly in 1859-63, then to Pall Mall, and in 1876 set up at 25 Old Bond Street (the studio moved again to 38 Dover Street in 1921, 18 years after Bassano retired from the company that bore his name). On the closure of the studio in Dover Street in 1974, the majority of negatives were donated to the National Portrait Gallery together with three sitter books. The National Portrait Gallery later acquired the entire collection of more than 35,000 negatives and donated the fashion images to the Museum of London.
4. Museum of London, Museum of London Docklands and Museum of London Archaeology seek to inspire a passion for London. The Museums are open daily 10am – 6pm and are FREE to all.
