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This personal archive of one of the twentieth century’s foremost theatrical designers, Oliver Messel (1904-1978), includes scrapbooks, sketchbooks, costume and set designs. The acquisition will ensure the archive stays together and is made accessible to the public.
Messel’s career spanned the worlds of stage, film, opera, interior design, portraiture and architecture. He transformed the professional status of designers giving them, for the first time, the same ‘billing’ as actors.