I source, research and sell examples of rare and unusual antique dress and textiles and have been advising and selling to collectors, museums, decorators, designers and enthusiasts in the UK, Europe, North America and beyond for 35 years. Previously I established the Costume & Textile Department at Sotheby’s Belgravia, London. I am based in Hackney, East London.
2024 - I have recently spent a few very enjoyable months helping the Museum of the Home, here in East London, source textiles and dress
for their Real Rooms project, a permanent display.
museumofthehome.org.uk
2022/1 - I have been working as a consultant to Leighton House, Kensington, the former home and studio of leading Victorian artist Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896).
A major redevelopment, just completed, aimed not only at the restoration of the historic house but adding furnishings, similar to those when Leighton lived there.
Photographs from the late 19th century of the house’s interior, show many textiles used as hangings or strewn on furniture, which Leighton collected on his
extensive travels in Europe, the Near and Middle East. As part of the project I was asked to identify the textiles and source similar, to add a significant layer
to the house’s history.
rbkc.gov.uk/museums
2021/2017 & 2008 - Liberty London insurance valuation.
2021- 2008 - Trustee of the Textile Society.
2021 - Paisley Museum. Insurance valuation of shawls to be displayed at the re-opening.
2019 - Supplying the Gaskell House Museum with a few items of dress and textiles for display.
2019 - Sanderson Fabrics. Insurance valuation.
2018 - Craven Museum & Gallery, Skipton, North Yorkshire. Advising on a textile archive being offered to the museum.
2017 - National Trust's Shaw's Corner, Ayot St Lawrence, Herts, the home of George Bernard Shaw. Identifying and advising on all the textiles in the house.
2016 - National Heritage Memorial Fund. Advising purchase of TE Lawrence's (Lawrence of Arabia's) robe, acquired by the Army Museum, London.
2015 - National Heritage Memorial Fund. Advising purchase of a 1890s May Morris embroidered bedcover Homestead and the Forest acquired by the Society of Antiquaries for Kelmscott Manor.
2013 - National Heritage Memorial Fund. Advising purchase of a 17th century beadwork basket acquired by the Holburne Museum, Bath.
2013 - Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. Cataloguing and advising on their shawl collection.
2010 - The Craft Study Centre, Farnham, Surrey. Insurance valuation.
For 18 years I regularly lectured at Sotheby's Institute on English Furnishings of the 16th and 17th centuries, Chinese Court Costumes and Kashmir and Shawls of Paisley Design. In 1986 I lectured at the Treasure Houses of Britain exhibition in Washington, DC on the textiles and costumes in the portraits.
You will find short articles on a variety of subjects in the ARTICLES section of my website.
I wrote the chapter on Symbolism and Status. Costumes and Textiles from China and Japan for the Embroiderers' Guild's book Treasures of the Embroiderers' Guild about their Far Eastern Collection, in 1991.
I also contributed chapters on the history of Furnishing Textiles Understanding Style from the Regency to the 1960's for the Regent Academy, Regent Street.
I wrote a regular Saleroom Column for Embroidery magazine for 13 years.
Articles on Chinese Insignia, Sleevebands and Manchu & Han Shoes appeared in antique and embroidery magazines.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2024