TWO TEMPLE PLACE, LONDON There are some exquisite sights to admire in an exhibition of opulence and vision – but what exactly is it trying to do? Two Temple Place is one of London’s most lavishly decorated buildings. Once the estate office of William Waldorf Astor, it opens its doors to the public for a few months each year to host a themed exhibition drawing on Britain’s regional museum collections. The opulent context means there’s a tendency toward craft and antiquities – which makes Unbound: Visionary Women Collecting Textiles a classic Two Temple Place exhibition. Drawn from seven institutions, there are some exquisite pieces here. Edith Durham’s glorious collection of textiles and garments from the Balkans includes a waistcoat made in Berat, Albania. Embroidered with gold and silver on black velvet, it is as richly worked as a glistening jewel. The garment was presented to Durham by the provisional government of Berat in 1913 in recognition of her role in petitioning the British government on behalf of the Greek-occupied city of Korçë. Continue reading...
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