Why’d They Put That In A Museum?
Show Notes
Artist: Unknown maker
Item: cage crinoline, “A Favorite of the Empress”
Details: c. 1860 – 65. Spring steel, woven wool, linen, cotton, and brass, 93 cm diameter, 80 cm high. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O58867/a-favorite-of-the-empress-cage-crinoline-unknown/
Cage Crinoline by unknown Maker
In this episode of ‘Why’d They Put That in a Museum,’ Sarah Lees, a museum curator, joins art enthusiast Beth Bacon to discuss a Victorian-era cage crinoline at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The crinoline is a 19th-century undergarment and it was worn by women to help shape the era’s fashionable large hoop skirts. Beth and Sarah explore what makes this item innovative– its design, the materials used, and the way it was marketed as ‘A Favorite of the Empress.’ Which Empress, and how true was this claim? Listen and find out. They then discuss the purpose of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the context of the Industrial Revolution, and fashion’s evolution over time. They also highlight the importance of visiting museums in person. Join Beth and Sarah to understand why this seemingly mundane piece of clothing is a valuable museum artifact.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
02:08 Today’s Museum Object: The Cage Crinoline
04:34 Historical Context and Significance
06:43 Fashion and Design in the 19th Century
12:43 Preservation and Museum Purpose
18:05 Conclusion and Wrap-Up
This is the cage crinoline found at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Contact Us
Say helloAbout the Podcasters
Sarah Lees
Sarah is a museum curator and researcher who has worked in organizations both large and small, and who remembers her first assignment for an art history class – to look into Rembrandt’s eyes and describe what she saw there. She believes everyone can find those kinds of connections to some form of creative expression, whether it’s a painting, a grandmother’s quilt, or a perfectly formed pen-stroke in a manuscript.
Beth Bacon
In addition to being an avid museum-goer, Beth Bacon is an author for young readers. Her books empower today’s kids to learn about themselves and the world through reading. She is also a teacher and branding consultant and a volunteer at the Missouri History Museum. Beth holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, an MA in Communication Arts from NYU, and a BA in Literature from Harvard University.
Music Credit
The music you hear in the intro and outro was composed by Edward Whelan. We appreciate his contribution to our podcast.
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