Te Papa Curator to Work with Royal Dress Collect'n

14 June 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

Te Papa Curator Awarded Scholarship to Work with Queen Mothers’ Historic Dress Collection in Buckingham Palace

Angela Lassig, Senior Curator of History at Te Papa has been awarded the competitive Clark Collection Scholarship which includes the opportunity to work with the Curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection in Buckingham Palace. Angela will help prepare an exhibition on the ‘white wardrobe’ designed for the late Queen Mother who, as Queen consort to King George VI, wore the clothes during the important state visit to France in 1938, shortly before the outbreak of World War II. The wardrobe was designed in a matter of weeks by Norman Hartnell as a suitable mourning dress for the Queen whose mother, the Countess of Strathmore, had recently died. The wardrobe was entirely in white and caused a sensation at the time.

As the recipient of the Scholarship, Angela will also attend the annual Attingham Trust Summer School to participate in four internships with English Heritage (Brodsworth Hall, Yorkshire); The National Trust (a variety of properties) and The Victoria and Albert Museum (London). Angela will join with historians from around the world to study the architecture, interiors, and gardens in some of Britain’s most prominent historic country homes through East and West Sussex, Nottingham, Derbyshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

In preparation for the indepth study of each property, students attend lectures with acknowledged specialist and experts. Properties studies this year include Arundel Castle, Petworth House, Calke Abbey, Chatsworth, Hardwick Hall, Kedleston Hall, Temple Newsam, Claydon Park, Chicheley Hall, Stowe House and Woburn Abbey.

The scholarship has been made possible through the support of Museums Aotearoa, Creative New Zealand, The British Council and Link Foundation.

Mr Errol Clarke has sponsored New Zealand candidates for the last five years to enable an additional internship to include a study of the Royal collection.

Angela Lassig departs New Zealand on 17 June to take up the 6 week Scholarship.

ENDS

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