Downton Abbey Comes to the Big Apple
A New York exhibition celebrates post-Edwardian England and the luxe interiors and fashions of the Crawley household
Bryan Anthony
November 16, 2017
Houzz Editorial Staff; writer, design enthusiast, reader, avid traveler.
Photos from NBCUniversal
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
When: Nov. 18 through Jan. 31, 2018
Where: 218 W. 57th St., New York City
Cost: Starts at $30
Based on the popular television show Downton Abbey, this exhibition will transport you to post-Edwardian England and the iconic house where the characters lived and worked. The exhibit will feature authentic set re-creations by the show’s award-winning set designer. It also will include more than 50 official costumes worn by the cast. The exhibition is expected to tour the U.S., but the cities have not yet been determined.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
When: Nov. 18 through Jan. 31, 2018
Where: 218 W. 57th St., New York City
Cost: Starts at $30
Based on the popular television show Downton Abbey, this exhibition will transport you to post-Edwardian England and the iconic house where the characters lived and worked. The exhibit will feature authentic set re-creations by the show’s award-winning set designer. It also will include more than 50 official costumes worn by the cast. The exhibition is expected to tour the U.S., but the cities have not yet been determined.
The Crawley family’s glamorous dining room was re-created with great attention to detail by series production designer Donal Woods. Actor Laura Carmichael, who played Lady Edith Crawley, says, “It’s so like the real Downton Abbey, it’s spooky.”
The bell board from the servants’ dining room kept the staff on their toes and at the beck and call of the home’s upstairs inhabitants. Actor Jim Carter, who played Mr. Carson, the Crawleys’ butler, says that going through the exhibit “felt like reliving the entire six seasons in a few minutes.”
The exhibit re-creates the Crawleys’ large downstairs kitchen, which was tightly run by head cook Mrs. Patmore in the show. The gift shop at the end of the exhibition will offer post-Edwardian kitchen accessories and a range of quintessential English foods.
Actor Sophie McShera — who played Daisy, a kitchen maid who worked her way up to assistant cook — is impressed with kitchen’s re-creation. “It’s pretty much exactly the same, it’s so good; everything is as it was when we were filming.”
The lovely teal walls and period-perfect furnishings of Lady Mary Crawley’s bedroom let you imagine, if only for a moment, what it might feel like to live in the lap of luxury.
The exhibit’s 50-plus costumes were curated by Anna Robbins, costume designer for the fifth and sixth seasons, who was nominated for an Emmy for her work on the TV show.
Here’s an image from the show of Lady Edith at a dinner party. She’s wearing a lovely pink and sequined dress.
The elegant dress will be on view at the exhibition.
In this photo, Lady Mary, played by actor Michelle Dockery, looks quite chic in a long coat, gloves and hat.
Here’s her dashing outfit at the exhibition.
In the show, newly appointed assistant cook Daisy picks out some cutlery in the kitchen.
The same outfit, displayed complete with apron, will draw you back to Mrs. Patmore’s bustling downstairs domain.
Here, a member of the Crawleys’ butler staff holds a car door open for Lady Edith.
Looking ready to serve, the same butler outfit with black vest and white bow tie will be on display.
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I loved the Downton Abbey series! The sets and costumes were amazing! I would love to see this exhibit!
The worst thing to me about this show is the story lines. I think they got the ideas out of a book called “Soap Opera Plots for Dummies.” It was super soapy/sappy.