Wednesday 30 March 2011

Events Diary - 30th March 2011

Station Platform shoot
High Fashion comes to STEAM!

 Last week saw the Museum transformed for an exciting fashion shoot.  Duo, who specialise in boots and shoes, came to STEAM to shoot their Autumn/Winter range of footwear.


The Museum provided a wonderful backdrop for a 1930s inspired shoot, full of glamour and intrigue.  The shoot took place in and around our Station Platform, on our buffet car and by Caerphilly Castle.  In person the scene shots looked great, but seeing them on screen made the Museum look amazing!  The lighting looked moody and evocative and the special effects brought the photographs to life.  The late night shoot based by Caerphilly Castle used dry ice to create the effect of live steam.  The photographs gave the impression of a dark and atmospheric station at night. 

Special effects under Caerphilly Castle

Duo brought with them a team of stylists, make-up artists and a photographer.  And of course the model, Lisa, who made all the outfits and footwear look stylish and chic.  The shoot took 2 full days and the team photographed approxiamately 10-15 different styles of boots and shoes.  The Museum was priviledged enough to see a sneak preview of the new range, but we won't be able to show you what we saw just yet! The new range is launched in July 2011.

Duo specialise in special fit boots and shoes and can offer boots in up to 21 different calf sizes.  Check out their latest collection at http://www.duoboots.com/ and go online in July to see STEAM featuring in their promotions.

Lisa having her make-up applied

Sean, the Photographer, at work


Thursday 10 March 2011

Curatorial Corner - 10th March 2011

A Charitable Find!

A recent find in a charity shop in Swindon has got the Curatorial department buzzing with excitement!  Last Monday a call from one of the Museum's volunteers alerted us to a GWR inkwell set sat in the window of the Prospect Hospice Shop on Victoria Road, Swindon.  A frantic call to the shop confirmed the inkwell set was still for sale and the Curator and Collections Officer rushed on over to take a look.


The complete GWR inkwell set

We were staggered by what we found.  A near perfect GWR inkwell set, complete with three glass inkwells sat in a lovely wooden stand.  The stand still had the brass pen holder attached.  Two of the glass inkwells are branded with the letters GWR, and the third with the slogan Go Great Western. The publicity slogan Go Great Western was introduced in the 1920s and the style of the script on the inkwell dates the set to 1926.  Both the stand and the pen holder are stamped GWR too.

We settled up with the shop and took our prize find back to STEAM.  We do not know where the inkwell set came from, but like to think that it sat on the desk of an important Works Manager or Station Master!  I guess we will never know.


A close up of the "Go Great Western" glass inkwell

The Museum hopes to display the inkwell set in a new display over the summer.