Dates: 28 May – 23 October 2026
Location: Kingston Lacy, Wimborne, Dorset
MA Historical Costume students from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) were commissioned by the National Trust to create an 18th century-style robe à la française inspired by the exquisite Visakhapatnam cabinet at Kingston Lacy, Dorset.
The resulting gown forms part of the National Trust’s exhibition Rani Lacy: Revealing an Indian Treasure, which explores the craftsmanship, cultural exchange and creativity surrounding this remarkable object.
About this exhibit
The original cabinet, created in the 18th century by Indian craftspeople in the coastal trading port of Visakhapatnam, is renowned for its intricate ivory inlay and exceptional craftsmanship. Its decoration reflects the cultural interrelationship between India and Europe during the period. Following extensive conservation and analysis, the cabinet has returned to Kingston Lacy as the centrepiece of the exhibition.
Affectionately known as Rani Lacy, the cabinet provided the starting point for the students' creative interpretation. Its delicate floral and faunal decoration, rich red and ivory palette, engraved motifs and sculptural cabriole legs were translated into the language of 18th century dress.
The result is a richly detailed red robe à la française, drawing on the characteristic wide-hipped silhouette, structured underpinnings and characteristic pleated back of mid-18th century court fashion while responding directly to the cabinet's distinctive Indian and European visual influences.
The design explores how an historic object can be reinterpreted through costume. Rather than reproducing the cabinet literally, the students translated its visual language into fabric, embroidery, print and millinery.
The project therefore brings together two distinct traditions of making: the extraordinary craftsmanship of the original Indian cabinet and the specialised techniques of historical European dressmaking.
Creating the costume was a collaborative process, bringing together specialist skills in historical dress, embroidery, textile design, millinery, mannequin preparation and garment construction.
The Rani Lacy collaborative costume-making team comprised:
- Coriander – Costume and Textile Designer and Illustrator
- Amanda Burch – Stomacher Embroiderer and Screenprinting
- Elsa Hugot – Millinery Designer and Hat Maker
- Charlotte Knight – Mannequin Preparation and Robe Maker
- Madeleine Pugh – Petticoat Maker
- Katy Welsh – Hoop, Chemise Maker and Petticoat Embellishment
The team would also like to thank Marie Chandler, Isabelle Crouch, Rebecca Tymchak and Grace Allred for their additional help and support throughout the project.
