Shropshire Star

First exhibition exploring ‘golden age’ of ocean travel to launch at V&A

A fragment of the doomed Titanic’s first class lounge is included in the show.

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A Victoria and Albert Museum employee by Bassett-Lowke Ltd Model for Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, probably about 1938, during a photo call for the V&A’s new Ocean Liners: Speed and Style exhibition (David Mirzoeff/PA)

The first exhibition exploring the cultural impact of the ocean liner is to open at London’s Victoria and Albert museum.

Ocean Liners: Speed And Style showcases more than 250 objects, including a wooden panel fragment from an overdoor in the Titanic’s first-class lounge.

It traces the revolution of sea travel from the mid-19th century with the emergence of the ocean liner.

A precious diamond and pearl Cartier tiara rescued from the sinking Lusitania in 1915 is among the more luxurious items.

And exclusive Maison Goyard luggage previously belonging to King Edward VIII – who became the Duke of Windsor after abdicating to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson – will return to Europe for the first time since they were acquired from the Windsor Estate.

Ocean Liners: Speed & Style exhibition
A wooden panel fragment from an overdoor in the first-class lounge on the Titanic, part of the V&A’s Ocean Liners: Speed & Style exhibition (Maritime Museum of the Atlantic)

Also included in the collection is a Christian Dior suit worn by German actress Marlene Dietrich as she arrived in New York aboard the Queen Mary in 1950.

The precious Cartier tiara recovered from the sinking Lusitania in 1915 (David Mirzoeff/PA)
The precious Cartier tiara recovered from the sinking Lusitania in 1915 (David Mirzoeff/PA)
Bikini
Bikini, about 1968, by Emilio Pucci, at the V&A (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Director of the V&A, Tristram Hunt, said: “This seminal show reveals hidden design stories of some of the world’s most luxurious liners, from the Titanic to the Normandie and QE2.

“We have collected ship-related objects and ephemera for well over 100 years, and now have a startlingly brilliant collection of ocean liner material, making us uniquely placed to present this exhibition.”

– Ocean Liners: Speed And Style will run at the V&A from February 3 until June 17 2018.

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