Its not often I get to run shoulders with Laurence Llewellyn Bowen so I was delighted to get an invite to last nights 'Putting on the Glitz' at The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester.
With a great intro from the flamboyant king of the cuffs (only small cuffs last night though) it is a wonderful opportunity to view wallpapers and coverings with that extra something
Traditionally, wallcoverings incorporating precious metals could only be afforded by the wealthy. For those aspiring to wealth, such luxury was highly desirable. Putting on The Glitz explores how this desire has been (and can still be) satisfied, both by the real thing and by extremely effective imitations.
Selected from the Whitworth's collection, this exhibition features luxurious 18th century decorated leather, 19th century Japanese and French imitations, foils and other metallic finishes from the 1960s/70s, along with contemporary jewelled patterns that our ancestors might have envied. On show, together with fabulous new designs, are samples of gold and silver leaf, and other metals used in the manufacture of 21st century wallcoverings.
Indulging our appetite for glamour, this exhibition shows that glitz is no longer only the preserve of the well-off.
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