Kirkstall: Power of Persuasion Exhibition
January 20 - December 31
Suspect sales tactics employed by crafty companies through history will be exposed in a new exhibition in Kirkstall exploring the evolution of advertising.
The Power of Persuasion will cast a critical eye over the spurious claims made by firms of the past, which occasionally landed them in hot water and helped set the strict standards for advertising today.
The exhibition, which will open at Abbey House Museum, will also look at iconic brands from Leeds and beyond which have stood the test of time and cemented their place in history.
Among the stories which feature in the exhibition are the fraudulent claims made by Leeds firm C.E. Fulford Ltd, whose appetisingly named Bile Beans were on sale in the early 1900s.
Kitty Ross, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of social history, said: “The tactics companies have used to try and persuade costumers to part with their money have varied dramatically over the years in line with consumer trends, economics and the way in which advertising itself has been regulated.
The Power of Persuasion will open at Abbey House Museum on January 20, 2024. More details are available at: Abbey House Museum – Leeds Museums & Galleries.