Rachel Landress

Walk Through

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The visitor hears the sweet, cheerful melody of a piano as they walk around, catching their attention to the Museum of Philology. As the visitor walks closer to the exhibit, they start to smell hints of jasmine and vanilla. Upon entering, the visitor is sent back in time to the Victorian Era parlor room. They will see the contrast of the light-colored walls with the brown wainscoting, but the big bay window catches their attention after a minute. The large windows are at the back of the room, covered in layers of delicate lace window coverings. The light from the window seeps through, spilling along the small round, covered table with two chairs located close to the window. The visitor can walk around the room, soaking in the light from the windows.

 

The visitor notices the table is set for tea time with delicate porcelain china and small silver tray. The more the visitor looks around they see the beautiful fireplace along the right wall, soon they realize the large mirror above the fireplace, perfect height to see yourself. The visitor can walk around, interacting with their surroundings, becoming immersed in the high society of the Victorian Era. As part of the immersive, interactive tea time, there are life size intricate cut outs of period women, as they would have been seen in this era, one close to the fireplace and the other by the bay window. As the visitors see the cutouts, they start to feel the sense of elegance of the period. The visitors are encouraged to try on and sit in crinolines and coattails before tea is to start. Tea is ready to begin; the visitors sit at the small table positioned between the elongated windows and the large warring fireplace. They adjust to sitting in large, straight back, silk brocade chairs, trying to figure out how to sit in these crinoline skirts.  

 

Once the tea hour starts, the “help” brings out the tea pot, bags, and small treats. They pick up the thin porcelain with a light touch, making sure not to be rough with the fragile tea cup.  After tasting the tea, they lightly place the sugar cubes in the tea, stirring gently to not knock into the sides. Light giggling happens between sips and conversations, showing the relaxation and happiness of the visitors. Before the end of the hour, the visitors get the idea of taking a selfie with the cutouts.

 

As the hour comes to a close, the visitors realize that the sweet piano melody has continued through tea time, lost in the background of the conversation until now. Before the visitors leave, we take a picture of them sitting around the table sipping their tea. One last call for any pictures to be taken before returning the crinolines and coattails. The help is cleaning up, the crinolines and coattails are being put up until the next round of visitors. As the visitors, are saying goodbye to their company, they are sent off with the smell of jasmine and vanilla and a sepia colored photograph.