VIDEO: Chance to enjoy Lady Lever's Edwardian glory after refurbishment

More than 1,500 items of fine and decorative art will be re-displayed in the building's South End following the £2.8m scheme. 

The restoration encompasses 500 square metres of gallery space-a revamp of more than a quarter of the venue.

The gallery spaces will be fitted out between October and January and open to the public in March.

Sandra Penketh, director of Art Galleries for National Museums Liverpool, looks forward to the re-opening of Lady Lever's South End gallery today. Picture: Paul Heaps

During a preview tour of the gallery this afternoon, Sandra Penketh, director of Art Galleries for National Museums Liverpool, said: "It's about refurbishing the spaces back to their original architectural elegance which Lever faced in 1922.

"It's one of the most spectacular spaces in the building."

The newly-themed displays will feature:

• Wedgwood Rooms - two interlinked rooms displaying the gallery's astonishing Wedgwood collection. In 1905 Lord Lever purchased a large group of beautiful ornamental ware, which is now regarded as the world’s finest collection of Wedgwood jasperware.
• New displays will highlight very rare objects, such as two copies of the celebrated Portland Vase and three, of possibly only four in the world, complete jasperware fireplaces.
• An Eighteenth Century Room will include some of the most outstanding examples of English 18th century furniture in the country. The display in this room will explore female portraiture and the lifestyles of women during this period.
• Two interlinked rooms will demonstrate the importance and influence of Chinese ceramics on European art and taste.
• There is also a rich collection which includes 17th-18th century porcelain (Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong periods), reverse paintings on glass, cloisonné, jade, snuff bottles and earlier ceramics of the Han, Tang and Song dynasties (2nd century BC - 14th century).
• A new room exploring the ways in which European artists re-interpreted oriental designs and decoration in objects made in the West. Much of the gallery’s Chinoiserie furniture will be displayed together here for the first time.
• Napoleon Room – a dazzling display of furniture and artefacts related to Napoleon will be given new life as visitors will be able to get much closer to the objects.
• The room is not only a demonstration of Lord Lever’s eclectic taste, but also his drive to collect, assemble and share those things which inspired him most.
• The Sculpture Gallery and Vestibule – refurbishment of the stunning south dome will create a dramatic backdrop for fine examples of Victorian and early 20th century sculpture. While the plans for the south vestibule will connect the gallery with the architecture of Port Sunlight village.

The Lady Lever Gallery this afternoon. Picture: Paul Heaps

Sandra Penketh continued: "In the last 10 years there have been a number of small repairs, but this is the next phase.

"We wanted to make the circulation around the building better. So, if you go into one room, you can go into the next room much better, so it's an easier flow.

"The gallery currently gets around 200,000 visitors per year. Hopefully, through this refurbishment, we will get more."

Example of original architecture on view at Lady Lever Gallery. Picture: Paul Heaps

The south vestibule there will feature displays looking at the gallery's history and two glass doors looking out on the village's fountain and war memorials.

On March 25 March 1914 King George V laid the foundation stone for what was to become one of the UK’s finest art galleries.

The gallery was opened in 1922 by William Hesketh Lever to house the best of his personal art collection.

So, what would the gallery's founder have thought about the work?

Sandra said: "Lever would have approved. There's a lot more bling in this building than we realised. It's a very elegant place."