Category: Museums

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Thy virtue merits more

17th century gold seal matrix

The Friends have contributed to Leeds Museum acquiring this unusual gold post medieval seal matrix.

The 17th century seal imprints a heart design that has been pierced by an arrow, with four drops of blood beneath.

It is likely that this was given as a love token as it is inscribed with the romantic sentiment “thy virtue merits more” in a handwritten font- although the curators at Leeds Museum have a different take on it, featured on their blog. They debate that it may in fact have religious significance with reference to the Christian faith.

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Dressed for Battle

 

Leeds City Museums are showcasing military tailoring in their new exhibition Dressed for Battle. The Lotherton Hall display features an Alexander McQueen outfit which the Friends contributed to.
You can see the McQ woollen coat, belt and boots from Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, whilst learning about how the legacy of war has contributed to fashion.Dressed for Battle by McQueen

Alexander McQueen died in 2010 with a reputation as one of the most significant, imaginative, and provocative designers of his generation. Internationally acclaimed, he won ‘British Designer of the Year’ four times between 1996 and 2003 and was also named ‘International Designer of the Year’ by the Council of Fashion Designers in 2003.

The military outfit was designed under Sarah Burton, Creative Director of the label after McQueen’s death. The label has seen considerable success under this leadership with the Alexander McQueen fashion house selected to make the wedding dress for Katherine Middleton when she married Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
See Dressed for Battle at Lotherton Hall until January 2014
Images: Coat from the McQ label by Alexander McQueen, part of the Autumn / Winter Collection 2012.

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Home to Over a Million Wonders

Leeds Museum Discovery Centre © Leeds Museums and Galleries

The Discovery Centre is a unique museum resource housing and caring for Leeds’ fantastic collections. Visits are by appointment for research or just to view the collections.

Many of our members volunteer at the Discovery Centre, assisting curators and conservators with projects researching, documenting and conserving objects in the Museum Collections. For more information about how you can get involved, visit the Museums and Galleries website.

Leeds Museum Discovery Centre © Leeds Museums and Galleries

 

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Experience a World of Discovery

Leeds City Museum © Leeds Museums and Galleries

Leeds City Museum opened in September 2008 in Cuthbert Brodrick’s 1860 Leeds Institute, this award winning city museum has beaten all attendance forecasts.

The Friends were involved in the development of the City Museum, working as part of a group of four societies, consultating andbeing involved in development throughout the entirety of the project.

Today the Museum is free and open to the public 6 days a week.  There are four floors of Galleries including regular special exhibtions, telling the stories of Leeds and much much more!