Santina M. Levey
Santina M. Levey | |
---|---|
Born | Santina Margaret Levey April 25th 1938 Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom |
Died | 26 August 2017 Leicester, Leicestershire. England |
Alma mater | University of Leicester |
Occupation(s) | Author Costume and textiles historian Conservator |
Employer | Victoria and Albert Museum |
Santina Margaret Levey
Early life and education
In April 1938,[1] Levey was born in Nottinghamshire, the second of three children in her family.[2] When the Second World War broke out, she and the rest of her family relocated to Leicester, where school teachers were bemused with her handwriting and spelling but recognised her intelligence and artistic ability.[2] Levey studied for an history degree at the University of Leeds and went on to take a post-graduate teaching degree in Leicester.[2][3]
Career
She briefly taught as a teacher, before she went on to begin her museum career in
Levey provided advice and assistance to the Bowes Museum and had begun cataloguing the Blackborne Lace Collection[11] in the late 1990s to which she was instrumental in having it installed in the Bowes Museum[4][8] and contributed to the catalog of the exhibit.[12] She was a director of The Textile Conservation Foundation from 26 May 1991 to 9 February 2011 as well as of The Embroiderers' Guild between 23 March 1995 and 27 March 1999.[1] Levey regularly visited Norfolk's The Textile Conservation Studio, which saw work being done on embroideries from Hardwick Hall, producing related volumes, focusing on Elizabethan textiles,[13] Bess of Hardwick's inventories,[14] and a catalog on exquisite embroidery needlework and other materials such as the tapestries.[15] She examined the materials in detail and was open-minded to new discoveries.[2] Levey began working on examining Hardwick's ecclesiastical textiles in 2002, which May Berkouwer considered, but Levey was unable to finish the project.[2][4] From 2000 to 2009, she was a trustee of the Bowes Museum, championing curatorship, importance of museums worldwide and scholarship,[8] and was instrumental in clinching the donation of a private collection of lace in Great Britain.[3] Levey was appointed vice-president of the Centre International d’Etude des Textiles Anciens.[8]
She was a board member of the editorial panel of the journal Costume from 2005 to 2009 and was a frequent reviewer of books.[8] Levey authored several articles, books and other research on textiles. She also wrote for the journals Textile History; Costume as well as for the National Trust.[16] She established the School of Historical Dress and became a trustee of it, and collaborated with Janet Arnold and Jenny Tiramani to make "The Cut and Construction of Linen Shirts, Smocks, Neckwear, Headwear and Accessories for Men and Women C. 1540-1660" Volume 4[17] of the Patterns of Fashion series.[2] Levey was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and held a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a Doctor of Letters.[2]
Death
Levey's health deteriorated towards the end of her life and she required the support of her family.[3] She died on 26 August 2017 and received a funeral service at the Quaker Meeting House, Leicester on 15 September.[2] Levey was cremated at Gilroes Crematorium.[18]
Personality and legacy
Ksynia Marko of the National Trust described Levey as "a thoughtful mentor and a great encourager of others, being endlessly supportive, selfless and generous – and fun to be with."
References
- ^ a b "Santina Levey". Companies House. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Marko, Ksynia (Autumn 2017). "Santina Margaret Levey FSA, BA Hons, D.Litt – 1938–2017" (PDF). National Trust Arts Buildings Collections Bulletin: 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Browne, Clare W. "Santina M. Levey (1938 – 2017)". Centre International d’Etude des Textiles Anciens. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Antiques Trade Gazette (2330). Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via ProQuest.
- )
- )
- ^ ISSN 0590-8876. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via Edinburgh University Press.
- ^ "Lace history lecture". Austin American-Statesman. 4 May 1990. p. F3. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Blackstock, Peter (7 May 1990). "The lace is on". Austin American-Statesman. p. A12. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ V, W. "Bulletin of the Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Blackborne Collection of Lace" (PDF). University of Arizona. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- OCLC 136959247.
- OCLC 39288279.
- )
- OCLC 123893102.
- S2CID 194941959. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via EBSCO.
- OCLC 309957318.
- ^ "Santina Margaret Levey". The Times. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021 – via Legacy.com.