We LOVE Secrets of the V&A Museum on BBC2
Restoring a Mary Quant dress
For the last six weeks Thursday evenings have been sacrosanct. I’ve been glued to the TV watching, Secrets of the Museum – the revelatory documentary series on BBC2 about what goes on behind-the-scenes at the V&A Museum. My own special interest (apart from the obvious quest as a journalist for even more fashion knowledge) stems from a personal encounter…
We bought our house in London, which has been our home for nigh on 35 years, from an eccentric retiring curator of costume at the V&A and meeting him in 1986 left an indelible impression on me. Pip (very Dickensian, I thought) met us at the door in a silk dressing gown (it was lunchtime) and John Lobb monogrammed slippers. He chain-smoked Gauloises and had a half-finished Francis Bacon on the wall, no heating (we later discovered heated blankets under the floor boards to protect his antiques), rails of theatrical costumes covered in faded tissue and a priceless garden statue that resembled a Florentine Angel. Needless to say, all of that vanished, along with him when we sealed the deal and he popped off to end his days in Deal, Kent.
Preparing for the V&A Dior exhibition
I’ve had a soft spot for the V&A costume department ever since. And it’s the costume department that gets prime time in this remarkable series as the curators delve into how, what and where their majestic collection is archived, restored and displayed. The recent Mary Quant exhibition attracted 400,000 visitors to become the V&A’s third biggest fashion exhibition, and it was exhilarating to watch the restoration in progress of a mustard yellow mini dress (from the Ginger Group collection), painstakingly laboured over by a conservator called Frances. ‘ Being a textile conservator is a bit like being a doctor,’ she said spraying the crochet dress with deionised water, ‘ except your patients don’t talk back.’ The owner, Jenny Fenwick had bought the dress in Sheffield in 1964 and was delighted with the end result, ‘Who would have thought that the dress that had been in a plastic bag in the loft for decades…..I was a bit embarrassed by how grubby it was.’ Highlighting the importance of the staff behind the scenes at the museum, and the skill, craftsmanship and care that goes into the restoration process, Frances continued, ‘ You’re not just looking at a piece of cloth, you’re looking at a piece of history. You want to do your best for the owner, to present the item as best you can so the piece hold its own in the exhibition.’
Attending to the Mary Quant Ginger Group crochet mini dress
Every week, personal stories like this unfold. In episode one, Pumpie the homemade toy elephant (circa 1890) and member of the Cattley family for generations is carefully repaired, a beautiful Dior dress is returned to its former shape and fitted to a mannequin in preparation for the Designer of Dreams exhibition and a woman donates her grandmother’s collection of fine saris to the archive. The museum is set to open a brand new site in east London in 2023, its vast archive will be moved to new hi-tech premises with a research centre and 3,000 costumes need to be catalogued. How do you even start on such a challenge? If anyone can do it, the V&A curators can.
If you haven’t seen this unmissable series, it’s available here on BBC iPlayer.
Discussion (24 Comments)
Gillian Bingham says:
I love the series and the museum. I’m a member of the V&A and thoroughly enjoy my visits. There’s always something new to see, whether a blockbuster exhibition or a tiny artefact tucked away in a less well known area of the museum. I just wish I could go more often!
thanks for the tip, with all this staying at home a very welcome pleasure…
from amsterdam, judithMrs Tonia says:
I have also enjoyed watching the series on the V and A. Somewhere I’ve visited regularly since I was a schoolgirl nearby.
I’ve been a member for a very long time also and have enjoyed helping to support the museum plus the benefits of access without booking or queuing to their big exhibitions. So in the case of Dior and Mary Quant last year I could make return visits to look in detail at parts of the exhibition again. Recently I went to the splendid new exhibition on Kimono culture plus revisited the photography and installations of Tim Walker., the latter more enjoyable with fewer people than when it opened.Lesley Somerville says:
Totally agree, it’s a wonderful place and also hats off to the BBC who are so good at programmes like this. As they say, worth the licence fee!
maudie says:
I watched and recorded these riveting programmes – no-one was allowed to talk to me when I was watching them. I cannot bring myself to delete the recordings as I can see myself revisiting them again. Can you imagine actually working within that hallowed building – I would die and go to heaven! Your ‘Pip’ sounds just up my eccentric street – monogrammed Lobbs – how chi chi is that?
Angela Kennedy says:
Yes, he was quite a character , and I think we only actually got the house (as there was a lot of interest ) because we noted a ballet photo on the wall by Anthony Crickmay who was a friend of ours , and he was a massive ballet fan . Once we mentioned his name, we went ahead of the queue ! And , also by coincidence Cricks (his nick-name) had a wonderful exhibition of his work at the V&A in the photog gallery a few years back , and has sadly since passed away only quite recently .
Sarah says:
This is a wonderful series which I’ll miss once it’s finished. If only I could get to the V&A more often!
Sue says:
Oh I’m so glad you have given a shout out about this wonderful programme. I have loved it. I want a weekly series, because after all they’re always doing their stuff aren’t they?
I’ve learnt loads, envied the staff, remembered my Mary Quant white pvc mac and wondered what happened to it.
I wish I’d known about the art and craft of curating when I was at school and choosing a career. My one career session at my grammar school in the sixties offered us teaching, nursing or secretarial work. Nothing wrong with any of those professions but what a lot there was to explore that sadly was never mentioned.
So glad the BBC made this programme, I’m sure your feature will bring it to lots of peoples attention. Hope so.
P.S. Am I the only one that covets Pumpie the elephant as much as one of the fabulous pieces of jewellery or a Dior dress?I’m a Pumpie fan, too! He was so moth-eaten, the repair job was amazing. And I’ve often thought that working behind the scenes at the V&A would be the dream job (though I didn’t even know this kind of career existed when I was at school in Blackpool!)
Susan says:
Thanks for sharing! I found series on YouTube so now watching from California. Big Fan!
Helen says:
I went to the Mary Quant exibition,brought back wonderful memories of my sister sneaking out the window . BBC wonderful for this behind the scenes programme og the V & A.
Lisa says:
Brilliant – so timely! I was just sharing the news with my daughter that the V&A will close from tomorrow (18th) due to the – well you know what! We were there about 10 days ago to see the Wonderful Things exhibition as part of our International Women’s Day any excuse for a day out trip. She’s based in central London and working from home currently – you know why! But here we are – a few hours of V&A binge watching – I can’t wait. Thanks for sharing xx
Goddessinthedetails says:
Anthony Crickmay’s photos have a special place in my memory, also as a balletomane. –I first visited the V&A at about 11 years old, and I remember being fascinated by the Regency and Victorian clothing on display; it brought history to life for me in the most romantic way: imagining the girls who had worn those items, their hopes, dreams and disappointments. Such a thrill! Loving the programme, too: the glass-decorated table this week was exquisite.
Susan Maxwell says:
I do hope this series makes it Australia. I see that someone from the U.S. found it on you tube so I’ll check there.
I have so enjoyed visiting the V & A when I have been in London. Hope to get there again in 2021 and maybe even get to Dundee.noreen kelly says:
i am in Australia and accessed it in Australia. i was supposed to be there in person in May but not going now so this was a little bit of compensation. it was fascinating
Saba says:
Thank you. I’m in the U.S. and shall check Youtube. If anyone has a link, please send.
Freema says:
Sadly, this material is only available in the UK (for copyright reasons, they say)… so after watching the two-minute clip on the restoration of Pumpie the elephant at the V&A … I am left with my curiousity and concern – did they manage to patch him together or not? and how did they do it? I happen to have a few elderly teddy bears waiting for cosmetic surgery, and was hoping to learn from the video. Will have to just take the plunge and use whatever skills and bits of fabric I have around the house. Enjoyed reading the piece anyhow!
Donna says:
Hi. I retired a year ago from the V&A and it’s been interesting watching some of my former colleagues. In answer to your question, they did repair Pumpie, beautifully as usual 🙂
Kim Basham says:
Have loved this series!! Who even knew 45 years ago when I was making career choices that textile conservator was even a job! It would have been my very first choice had I known.
Isobel says:
I’m another one who would have loved to work in this area, but didn’t have a clue when I was young. This sounds like a brilliant series, so I’m hoping to catch it on YouTube. I also loved Angela’s story about getting the house. And I MUST find out about Pumpie the elephant!
CHARITY GIRL says:
Loved secrets of the museum. I think one of my favourites was Pumpie the elephant made by the children.
I had a go at making some clothes for 5 little wooden dolls from the 40’s that a friend had found in a charity shop.
I really enjoyed it, but I won’t be giving up my day job anytime soon.I had to giggle when I grouped them all together as I had made all the clothes with a definite 70’s theme, without realising. That is my favourite era and I gravitate to anything new or old that shouts 1970.
I used to try and dress differently, but always felt uncomfortable. After reading ‘know your style’ I felt liberated, so thank you for that Alyson.
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I’m loving this series too. During my time as a fashion student I visited several of their designer exhibitions and developed a love for the place. They do the exhibitions so well that anything becomes interesting.
I was eventually bought membership for a birthday gift, and have kept it up as despite living in Worcestershire I still visit regularly. A great joy is to find a previously unknown corner to explore.