Recently, a fascinating
selection of historic fashion sketches were discovered at Attingham
Park. Whilst undertaking inventory checking work in the textile collection
store in 2018, a National Trust volunteer found this collection of sketches
tucked inside an unassuming historic envelope. These sketches were created by
Teresa Hulton, later the 8th Lady Berwick, between the ages of 11 and 15. Born
in 1890, Teresa created the sketches in the early part of the 20th century.
The sketches are a valuable resource showing what activities and
interests wealthy teenage girls enjoyed at the time. They show family, friends,
ladies’ maids, seamstresses, and outfits seen in operas and plays. Some gowns
appearing to be outfits that survive in the Attingham collection, like the
striped dress Teresa depicts her mother wearing.
In different mediums from ink to pastel, some sketches have been drawn
on whatever paper Teresa had to hand, like her grandmother’s address card. Some
of the sketches have been meticulously cut around to give a 3D effect. Pin
holes in some of the sketches suggest they were displayed. Other pictures seen
in Teresa's letters to her friends show she used her illustrations as modern
teenage girls might do with photographs – sharing images of outfits admired at
parties or picnics. In a letter to a friend, she says how she loved to sketch
her mother in her evening dresses before she left for soirees.
Teresa’s father, the artist William Stokes Hulton, encouraged his
daughters to take an interest in art. William Stokes Hulton was friends with
influential artists like John Singer Sargent and Walter Sickert. Sickert helped
Teresa and her sister, Gioconda, with their own artistic efforts and the girls
sent him their drawings to be commented on. Whilst Gioconda was the one who
developed a real passion for art, Teresa primarily enjoyed creating beautiful
fashion sketches.
Teresa’s interest in fashion paved the way for her future as a
fashionable society beauty featuring in the ‘Vogue’ and ‘Tatler’ magazines. She
also made her own dresses and enjoyed attending fancy dress parties in
historical costumes and outfits from different countries – ideas suggested by
the more fanciful of her sketches.
Holly Kirby (assistant curator,
Attingham Park)
