There have been various interesting developments at the TRC. Surprisingly, tea cosies played a major role. A small exhibition of these mundane objects proves to be a great success with both staff and visitors. It brings a smile to people’s faces. It is amazing how a ‘simple’ object can bring forth so many emotions and stories of an ‘ordinary’ domestic nature.
I must admit I had not realised they were only used from about the 1860’s to the 1990’s, and that their role was usurped by tea bags and tea lights. We had numerous tea cosies at home when I was growing up in Yorkshire, but how many people now use them? It has been fun to hear other people’s cosy stories.
The other day there was an internal group meeting of staff, students and volunteers, who each brought a tea pot and materials to make tea cosies! Something that can be repeated again in the future.
It also highlighted the fact that we have very few modern sewing machines at the TRC (more about this shortly) and more importantly, what sort of sewing machines would be required if the TRC was to organise a series of workshops based around machine sewing? Basic level sewing, repairs, quilting and patchwork have been suggested. Other suggestions would be welcome as we are currently expanding the 2027 workshop series!
Which reminds me, on Saturday 28th November our Textile fellow, Flóra Kovács-Wester, will be giving a talk about her research into the TRC’s collection of Japanese kasuri (ikat) textiles. There are still places available if you would like to attend her talk.
In addition, although some weeks ago we just finished the 5-day course, on the 20-26 February we will again be running the TRC’s acclaimed, five-day intensive textile course. There are still several places available if you are interesting in joining. Please let us know. The same course will be repeated several times in 2027.
We have also been discussing the possibilities of a Princeton University Press/TRC textile series – would one on tea cosies be an idea? Actually, yes, it would, but who would write it? And yes, more about this idea for a book series will be published in a few weeks time.
Which brings me to another snippet of news, Augusta, our Education and Exhibition Officer, is busy with the next TRC exhibition, which is called ‘A World of Ikat’ and which will open in February 2027. It looks not just at East Asian ikat (especially Indonesian forms), but also Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish, European, as well as Central and South American forms! There will be both technical information as well as many examples to see and gain inspiration from.
We have recently been given a most welcome collection of textiles and clothing by Elizabet Nijhoff-Asser. The objects derive from her late husband's collection and shop, Astamangala, (Amsterdam). It has numerous items from Tibet and Bhutan. The Tibetan items include horse or mule decorations that were worn on the heads of the lead animals for various trading caravans. These pile textiles often had a Buddhist symbol and were intended as amulets to protect the caravans. We are planning a mini-exhibition about these pieces in the spring of 2027. I wonder if we will get any memories about horse trappings and caravans.
And last, but by no means least: Various people have been in contact with me about becoming a Friend of the TRC – details were published a few weeks ago (click the link) and there is a growing number of people who are willing to become Friends and support the TRC's growing range of events, workshops, etc. If you would like to become a Friend, then please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Today, Tineke van Oosten came to see the Paisley exhibition and brought with her a small group of textiles that she wondered if the TRC would be interested in having. They included something I had long wanted for the TRC Collection, namely a traditional outfit from the Philippines. It was a wedding outfit worn by the grandmother of Mary Anne Pasumbal, a Philippine woman living in Indonesia, which some years ago had been given to Tineke van Oosten. The outfit is special because it is made of piňa or pineapple thread, a traditional thread and cloth product in the Philippines. The outfit is made up of a blouse with upright sleeves and made of embroidered gauze, a kerchief, also of embroidered gauze), a long, starched skirt, made of a fine piňa cloth, and a long slip made out of silk or possibly an early synthetic material. These pieces will be added to the TRC Collection in the next few weeks. I wonder what the next few weeks will bring!
Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, Director
