The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum is an extraordinary French château museum building, internationally renowned for its collections of European fine and decorative arts spanning five centuries and situated in the town of Barnard Castle, Country Durham. With its extensive grounds it provides any visitor with a host of opportunities to see works of art, a fashion and textiles gallery and its iconic life size Silver Swan, an 18th century musical automaton.

The Bowes Musuem

The traditional permanent collections are complemented by a diverse range of contemporary exhibitions, ranging from Goya, Boudin, Monet, Damien Hirst, Vivienne Westwood and Tim Walker.

One stand out piece for me was the recreated ball gown of Joséphine Bowes, which she is seen wearing in her portrait. Luca Costigliolo was is a known theatrical and historical costumier, created the dress using traditional sewing techniques and a combination of both hand and machine sewing.  The dress was re-created in the museum during summer 2012, and was showcased in front of visitors.  The whole process was also filmed and documented and this can be watched by visitors inside the museum. 

Re-created ball gown of Joséphine Bowes

Luca Costigliolo with his re-creation

Check out the museums website : http://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk