A research archive of the late Elizabeth Aslin (1923-1989)

A research archive of the late Elizabeth Aslin (1923-1989),
on the work of E W Godwin, and 19th century furniture and ceramics,
to include letters, photographs, proofs of articles, lecture notes and correspondence with many museums in the UK and around the world, photographs of works in the V&A to include William Burgess, Peter Waals, C F A Voysey, W R Lethaby and others (qty.)

Elizabeth Mary Aslin was was born in 1923, a daughter of the architect Charles Herbert Aslin. She was an English art historian, administrator, author and lecturer who was a specialist in 19th and 20th century decorative arts. A research assistant in the Circulation Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum between 1947 and 1964, she then became a part-time assistant keeper in charge of Bethnal Green Museum from 1964 to 1968. Aslin returned to the V&A as assistant director to John Pope-Hennessy between 1968 and 1974, and she was later appointed Bethnal Green Museum's Keeper-in-Charge from 1974 to 1981.

Following the appointment of Roy Strong as director of the V&A in 1974, she returned to Bethnal Green Museum and was made Keeper-in-Charge until her retirement in 1981. After she retired, she dedicated herself to her interests as a lifelong member of The Victorian Society. Aslin was also a founder member of the Decorative Arts Society, and was a member of both the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society and the Victorian Arts Society. She was also a committee member of the Brighton Society in Hove. Aslin researched 19th century contential ceramics and the designs of Edward William Godwin, and she published 'E W Godwin: Furniture and Interior Decoration' in 1986.

Condition Report

A list of the contents of the archive - if further photographs are needed please contact the department.

#1 a box file titled ‘Furniture’ containing photographs and other paperwork of furniture and works of art.

#2 a red box file containing photographs and correspondence with institutions and individuals – the paperwork mainly dealing with EW Godwin and the use of photographs in publications.

#3 a red box file titled ‘ Furniture 19^th / 20^th centuries and all 20^th century material – mainly photographs, some photocopied materials, correspondence

#4 a red box file titled ‘Lectures’; ‘Edwardian Furniture and Interiors’, ‘Bristol 1986 – work on EW Godwin, ‘Bristol 1983 – all on Godwin’, ‘High Victorian Furniture’, ‘Brighton Voysey Seminar’, ‘The Aesthetic Movement’, ‘Bonhams 1986 – Aesthetic Movement’, a draft for ‘Liberty Catalogue, ‘Growth and Influence’ V and A September 11 1975 – some of these include slide and photo lists.
also a small folder titled ‘ Art Nouveau and Furniture’ – all appear to be lecture notes.

#5 a box of mixed paperwork, photos and cuttings.
a cutting book – mostly containing information on Minton.
a folder containing photos of furniture – typed notes ‘The Decorative Expression in England 1880-1914’
Notes on Arts and Crafts
Notes for lecture – Leighton House
Lecture notes ‘The Arts and Crafts Movement at the Turn of the Century’
A folder containing correspondence from institutions in the UK, Europe and the US – most relate to photograph requests.
a folder containing items relating to ‘Sandersons’
a further folder containing photos and lecture notes ‘The Oriental Influence on the Decorative Arts in France and England’; ‘Victorian Cast-Iron Furniture – Country Life 1963