A Whisper of Silk, Ramsay & Edinburgh Fashion

This talk will bring together an 18th century Georgian house and a folk museum collection. Vikki Duncan will explore how her discovery of two 18th century dresses within a store in Angus gave her the unique opportunity to highlight life through the ages, at all social levels.

Both silk dresses are a part of the Angus Folk Museum Collection yet are unusual within it. The dresses illustrate a section of society that sits between the élite and the ordinary folk of Angus, a region renowned for growing flax and the weaving of linen.

Vikkii’s research into the provenance of one of the gowns proved the ownership belonged to a local woman, but both dresses illustrate how fashionable and luxurious attire was worn in rural Scotland in the 18th century.

Vikki Duncan worked for Art UK to catalogue all of Aberdeen's oil and acrylic paintings in public ownership. Simultaneously she worked as sole curator at Blairs Museum, taking care of a wonderful collection of Roman Catholic treasures including the portrait of Mary Queen of Scots and the Blair Jewel reliquary.

Recently Vikki worked as Curator of Decorative Art at Aberdeen Art Gallery. She was involved in the contemporary craft acquisitions and was also a member of the Craft Curators Network.

Host or Publisher The Georgian House