It's only Tuesday and I am already feeling tired, but at the same time excited and inspired! Yesterday David and Bonnie Smith popped in on their way home from Georgia. Earlier in the year they donated their extensive collection of Albanian, Georgian and other textiles and garments to come to the TRC. We spent a very busy six months getting all of the items catalogued, photographed and online. There were numerous blogs about these pieces and their meaning for the TRC.
Bonnie and David Smith, with Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood in the middle, TRC, 8 November 2022.
David and Bonnie arrived with two large suitcases with even more textiles, including a large Wissa Wassef tapestry from Egypt, a book quilt from the US, textiles from Syria and Georgia, and a number of beautiful and informative books about Georgian traditional garments and outfits for men and women. The latter included indigo resist dyed textiles that will be referred to in a blog on this subject by Caroline Stone that will be published shortly.
In contrast, this morning we had a visit from Arman Az from the district of Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, who wanted to discuss Lampung embroidery – the TRC has 12 pieces dating from about 1900 – 1930. This was the first time anyone has asked to see these pieces! Plans are being made about how to carry out further and in-depth research about this form of needlework. Amran also brought a present for the TRC a large batik cloth produced by the Shiha Ali atelier, who employs disable young people in order to encourage creativity and self-confidence, while earning their own money.
Arman Az and Gillian Vogelsang, with a batik cloth from Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia, donated by Arman Az to the TRC, 8 November 2022.
At the same time Ann Cable, a TRC volunteer brought in some items she bought in the Southern African country of Namibia. These included handmade ostrich shell jewellery, as well as a special outfit for women with a headdress with ‘cattle horns’. These pieces will come online shortly and will be featured in two special blogs by Ann.
There was then a visit by a Leiden lady with garments worn by her grandmother who lived in Indonesia between 1915-1920. The donation includes two Indonesian blouses (kebaya), as well as European style cotton and silk garments.
Shortly afterwards then Henk van Nierop (Amsterdam) and a friend came with a small collection of 19th century lace that were collected by his great aunt, Johanna E. van Nierop (1883-1970) in the 1920s and later. The majority of her collection was given to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 1938 when she and her sister moved to America. The pieces that have been given to the TRC include some beautiful examples of Brussels lace on very fine tulle. Henk is now working on a blog about his great aunt and her research into the history of lace in general.
All of the pieces mentioned above will be added to the TRC catalogue over the next few weeks.
And next, well on Wednesday, David, Bonnie, Willem (my husband) and myself are going the Georgian Embassy in The Hague to see how we can work together to get traditional Georgian textiles and dress more well known! We will let you know what happens!
Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 8 November 2022
