Behind the Seams - A new exhibition at the Andover Historical Society.
On seeing a dress in a museum the first question which springs to mind is who wore it and what event did they go to? But this is not the only story which a dress can tell us. Dig a little deeper and these dresses speak of times when fabric was a valuable resource, expensive to buy and to be used and reused wisely. They tell tales of Victorian invention, both the sensible and the ridiculous. They talk of the rigid social rules of Edwardian times and the new economic and social freedom enjoyed by women after the First World War.
These are not the stories which first spring to mind when looking at a dress; rather they are underneath, slightly hidden: Stories which are just Behind the Seams….
Explore these stories and more at this latest exhibition at the Andover Historical Society. Funded in part by a 2013 Partnership Grant from the Essex National Heritage Commission, this self-guided exhibit is free and open to the public during Society hours. For more information or to schedule a group tour, please call 978.475.2236 or email info@andoverhistorical.org.
