{"id":30858,"date":"2026-09-23T12:26:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/?p=30858"},"modified":"2026-09-23T12:26:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:26:53","slug":"using-virtual-reality-to-bring-dunster-castles-rare-gilt-leather-collection-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/arts-social-sciences\/art-literature-music\/using-virtual-reality-to-bring-dunster-castles-rare-gilt-leather-collection-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Using virtual reality to bring Dunster Castle\u2019s rare gilt leather collection to life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Visitors to the National Trust\u2019s <\/span>Dunster Castle<\/span><\/a> can now explore its rare 17th-century gilt leather collection in a new immersive film created by The Open University (OU). Shown in a dedicated room before visitors enter the Leather Gallery, the film reveals the stories, craftsmanship and hidden details behind one of the castle\u2019s most remarkable collections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The project is led by <\/span>Professor Clare Taylor<\/span><\/a>, Professor of Art History and Material Cultures at the OU. It turns her original academic research into an engaging experience for the public. Produced through the OU\u2019s innovative XR Studios, the film explores seven large painted leather panels from the 17th century that tell the story of Antony and Cleopatra.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gilt leather is not widely known and is often mistaken for tapestry. The hangings are not woven; they are made from animal skins joined together. Silver leaf was added to the surface and painted yellow to look like gold. Stamped patterns created the shimmering metallic effects that catch and reflect the light.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using virtual reality and game-engine technology, the film takes visitors through a virtual version of the gallery. It zooms in on details that can be hard to see in the room, helping visitors explore the hangings\u2019 colours, textures, images and construction in new ways.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Professor Clare Taylor, The Open University<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a fantastic opportunity to work with the National Trust<\/span><\/span>
and show how academic research can be made accessible,<\/span><\/span>
engaging and relevant to visitors. Our research has uncovered new<\/span><\/span>
insights into these remarkable gilt leathers and their international<\/span><\/span>
significance. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

“Working with our XR Studios has enabled us to<\/span><\/span>
bring those findings to life in an exciting new way, responding<\/span><\/span>
directly to visitors\u2019 questions and helping people see what\u2019s on the<\/span><\/span>
walls at Dunster from a completely fresh perspective.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em>
<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Professor Taylor\u2019s research has uncovered a continuous history of the Luttrell family\u2019s interest in leather at Dunster, from the 1690s to the 1880s. As well as the celebrated hangings, the castle contains gilt-leather screens and seats, and wallpaper made to look like embossed leather. Records show that more hangings and unusual leather carpets were also once used in the property. This material has not been examined in a recent English-language book since the 1970s.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The research also shows how Dunster\u2019s collection fits into a wider international story. Detailed comparisons with decorated leather at Ch\u00e2teau \u00c9couen, home to France\u2019s National Museum of the Renaissance, and with lost panels from Walsingham Abbey in Norfolk reveal similar figures and settings. These links connect Dunster to a broader fashion among royal and wealthy households for luxury objects that could be moved from place to place.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Claire Reed, Cultural Heritage Cura<\/strong>tor, National Trust said<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis project has shone a new light on some of Dunster Castle\u2019s most remarkable collections. By putting visitors\u2019 and volunteers\u2019 curiosity at the heart of the research, we\u2019ve explored the questions and subjects that matter most to them. <\/em><\/p>\n

“Using the OU\u2019s innovative XR Studios has enabled us to bring these previously untold stories to life, giving visitors an exciting new way to encounter the collections.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The film was developed with the Trust\u2019s Cultural Heritage Curator, Claire Reed, and shaped by questions from Dunster\u2019s volunteers and visitors. It shows how sharing knowledge can work in practice: bringing together OU research, National Trust expertise and innovative immersive production to help more people understand this exceptional historic collection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main image:<\/strong> Close up photo of the rare 17th-century gilt leather screen at Dunster Castle. Copyright: National Trust<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Visitors to the National Trust\u2019s Dunster Castle can now explore its rare 17th-century gilt leather collection in a new immersive film created by The Open University (OU). Shown in a dedicated room before visitors enter the Leather Gallery, the film reveals the stories, craftsmanship and hidden details behind one of the castle\u2019s most remarkable collections.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":30890,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[2708,2710,1525,1640],"class_list":["post-30858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-literature-music","tag-dunster-castle","tag-gilt-leather","tag-news-home","tag-ou-home"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30858"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30892,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30858\/revisions\/30892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}