Kate the curator invites you to view her picks from the V&A archive

Times

4 days ago

Finding artefacts to interest a future queen used to spending her time in palaces and castles might be considered a difficult task.
However, the Princess of Wales has apparently had no trouble selecting historical objects for a 'mini display' that she has curated and which will be revealed today at the V&A storehouse in east London.
The Makers and Creators display will feature a Qing dynasty porcelain vase, a watercolour study by Beatrix Potter and a childhood photograph album belonging to her father, Rupert Potter, as well as a costume worn by Diana Vere in the Royal Ballet's 1960 production of The Sleeping Beauty. A Morris & Co furnishing screen designed by JH ­Dearle, William Morris's assistant, is ­included, along with a sculpture by Clemence Dane of the artist's hands.
As patron of the V&A, the princess visited the museum's new storehouse in June and worked with a team to bring objects together for public view.
The three-storey attraction in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is designed to create greater public access to the V&A archives, which are usually kept out of sight. Visitors can also request items to view.
During her visit, the princess spoke to Tim Reeve, deputy director at the V&A, and said: 'What a fantastic idea, what an opportunity for everyone to see these historic pieces in first person.' She added: 'It's so eclectic. And all parts of the process of displaying and curating.'
In a message written by Kate, displayed with her selections, she says: 'Objects can tell a story. A collection of objects can create a narrative, both about our past and as inspiration for the future. This display celebrates our past makers and creators and illustrates how much historic objects can influence fashion, design, film, art and creativity today. Individual, unique objects can come together to create a collective whole that helps us to explore our social and cultural experiences and the role we play in the wider tapestry of life.'
An art history graduate, Kate is a keen amateur photographer. Creativity has been a recurring theme in the ­princess's work as she has returned to public duties following cancer treatment last year.
The princess's collection is one of 100 changing mini-displays at the working storage facility and visitor attraction.
The storehouse keeps more than 500,000 works 'spanning creative disciplines from fashion to theatre, streetwear to sculpture and design icons to pop pioneers'. Glass and barriers around objects have been removed where possible to allow visitors to get close to the displays. Other artefacts include dresses that belonged to the late Queen, Keith Moon's drum kit and shoes ­designed by Zaha Hadid.