Used 1920s-1950s.

The Ardinis were a family of handbalancers and musicians who performed on the Australian vaudeville circuit between the 1920s and the 1950s.
Donated to the Sydney Opera House by Mrs Jean Ardini, 102/56 Ocean St Narrabeen, or 19 Lovett St Manly Vale.

Blouse, part of hand balancing costume, Ardini vaudeville performers, metal/cotton/synthetic, Australia, 1920s-1940s.

Blue, loose fitting, long sleeved, synthetic blouse with a V-neck line and collar. Collar is covered with large hand sewn silver sequins. V-neck fastens at front with 2 metal press studs. A vertical seam runs from bottom of V-neck down centre front of blouse. This seam is lined on the inside of the blouse with blue synthetic fabric and has a fastening of 2 eyes to join it to 2 metal hooks sewn onto a thick piece of elastic attached to the centre back of the blouse - this fastening forms a body-suit style fastening. The cuffs of the blouse are made of blue cotton covered with large hand sewn silver sequins. The cuffs each fasten with 2 metal hooks and eyes. The blouse is unlined except for the centre front seam and a section across the back from shoulder to shoulder. Machine and hand sewn.

Designed: Unknown; Australia

Made: 1920 - 1949


Used: Ardini family; Australia

Owned: Sydney Opera House; Sydney

98/19/8

560 mm