Ms Jo Elsworth writes: Oliver Messel (1904-1978) was an English artist and one of the foremost stage designers of the late 20th century. He was born into a creative family of wealthy bankers and the family home, Nymans, was a great influence throughout his life. Messel was taught to draw as a child by family friend and was taught to society portraitist portraitist Glyn Philpot and left e Eton ton early to study at the Slade School of Fine Art, where he became friends with Rex Whistler. Whistler. In 1925 he received his first theatrical commission, designing masks for the Diaghilev ballet, Zephyre et Flore, but it was his designs for C.B. Cochran’s Helen! in 1932 that made him that instantly famous. his career as a world-renowned theatre designer continued famous. His as into the 1970s, whilst his reputation also flourished in film, opera, ballet, interior whilst his reputation in film, décor and textile design. Messel's versatility ensured he played an important versatility ensured he played an important role in in national events: from war-time camouflage to spectacular decoration of the Dorchester and Royal Opera House for the Coronation. Throughout all areas of his work he employed his trademark Romanticism and wit, exquisite delicacy and subtle use of colour and materials.
In 1964, Messel brought a small dilapidated house, Maddox, on Barbados and began to design and rebuild it. The house he created, applying all his theatrical design skills, was such a success that he became in great demand as an architect and interior designer. He was commissioned to design 26 houses in the Caribbean, including Les Jolies Eaux and The Cotton House on Mustique. When he died on Barbados in 1978, his collection was bequeathed to two nephews; Lord Snowdon received his design archive (now owned by the V&A and known as The Oliver liver Messel Collection) and Thomas Messel received his personal archive (The Oliver Messel Archive) which has now been purchased which has by the Theatre Collection, with the generous support of Friends of the national of National Libraries, National Heritage Memorial Fund and others.
At the core of the Oliver Messel Archive are 38 boxes of correspondence from actors and artists, theatre and film directors, society figures and royalty. Messel was a member of the ‘Bright Young Things' and developed friendships with many of the famous names of the day, including Cecil Beaton, Lauren Bacall, Marlene Dietrich, John Gielgud, Katharine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor and Stephen Tennant. The Archive also contains thousands of photographs, often by leading photographers such as Beaton, Lenare, Snowdon and many others taken by Messel. Together with Messel’s original artwork and designs, technical drawings, drawings, stage and screen plans, scrapbooks and a and selection of plaster casts and masks, the Archive reflects the process of making of theatre and film, as well as the theatricality inherent in in society life. it acts as a It mirror for Britain’s wider cultural scene and evidences how Messel influenced art, architecture, fashion, media, festivities and celebrations, as well as stage and screen performances. Since the acquisition of the Archive it has already generated a great deal of interest, interest, including research visits from historians and international designers and a wide range of research enquiries.
