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On 1 September 1939, France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany following their invasion of Poland. By the end of 1945, six years after war was declared, the conflict had spanned across the globe, and resulted in the […]

Few movements in design history have captured the public’s imagination like Bauhaus has. Bauhaus was an avant-garde German design school that operated between the years of 1919 to 1933, when it was forced to close from pressure by the Nazi […]

History was made on 20 July 1969 when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully landed twelve men on the moon. At the height of geopolitical tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States of America, an estimated […]

If you didn’t have the chance to go on one of our Archive Collection Visits at Braintree Textile Fair, then here is your chance to see what you missed. Our theme this year was ‘All the Nine’s’ and focused on […]

Key to Warner & Sons success over almost an entire century of business was their passion for contemporary design whilst maintaining the more traditional arm of their business. Warner & Sons would frequently purchase work from emerging and influential designers […]

When in conversation with her architect, Sir Edward Lutyens, at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1921, Princess Marie Louise formed the idea of commissioning the perfect doll’s house as a gift to Queen Mary. Known as one of the […]

The strengths of true designs often shine more during times of austerity: the limitations of materials allow the creative mind to offer alternatives that may never normally reach the market place. During WWII rationing of all kinds were in place […]

Gardens and landscapes have been depicted in art and wall murals since antiquity, but after the fall of the Roman Empire they became representations for religious and figural scenes. It was not until the 16th century that artists began to […]

After the death of Louis XIV in 1715, dress became simpler during the 18th century. The outline of gentlemen’s coats became tighter fitting above the waist and flared out over the hips whilst feminine dress always included the corset, trimmed […]

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, the BBC has produced a series of television and radio programmes that challenge well-held views on Napoleon, his strategies and the legacies left. One such legacy of this tumultuous and […]