Hidden treasures and stories from our collection
Photo by Tomy K C Leung, Hair: Daniel Yang, Makeup: Kristina Milisavljevic, Model: Sandra Janssen @ The Agency Models.
2013 is an important year for the Museum. Not only are we celebrating our 25th birthday, but we’re also celebrating 20 years of Student Fashion.
Continue reading ‘Making it: 20 years of Student Fashion’
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 1993 poster, designed by Kendal Baker, Australia, 1993. 95/339/6-2 Collection: Powerhouse Museum.
As Sydney throw itself into another round of Mardi Gras celebrations, it is 35 years since the initial march. Attitudes have shifted since 1978 when the first march, which was more of a political protest, attracted the wrath of the police and condemnation from certain parts of society and the media.
Continue reading ‘The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 35 years on’
Flapper Dress of Marjorie Florence Smith. Collection and image courtesy: Cavalcade of History and Fashion Inc
The end of the First World War saw a tremendous change in society and the horrors of war prompted people to question the rigorous social and moral values of the preceding Edwardian Era. As with any time in fashion history, contemporary concerns and thought affected fashion and so, the nineteen twenties came to symbolise in dress everything that the end of the First World War had brought about –relaxed social attitudes, greater freedoms for women, an economic and creative boom, and most importantly the turn towards ‘modernity’.
Boorowa Museum
Each year the Powerhouse Museum’s Regional Services Program offers a Movable Heritage Fellowship to students residing in New South Wales enrolled at any University campus. Movable Heritage refers to any natural or manufactured object of heritage significance. The successful applicant undertakes a research project as part of the Fellowship on one or more objects in a community museum, historical society or other collecting institution. They are awarded $5,000 and also spend one week at the Powerhouse Museum receiving expert guidance by a supervising member of staff.
The winner of the 2012 Movable Heritage Fellowship was Rosie Strange. In this post, Rosie shares with us the nature of her costume research project and the experiences she has gained working with Lindie Ward, textile and lace curator at the Museum.
A8754-1 Mourning dress, satin, probably worn by Amelia Hackney, maker unknown, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, c. 1857.Collection: Powerhouse Museum
Victorian mourning tradition included from commissioning clothing, jewellery and accessories, to the more unusual traditions like post mortem photography. I was interested in taking a closer look at this forgotten practice of excess in the Australian tradition, uncovering the extensive practices of widows in the Victorian era.
Evidence of mourning costume predates the Roman Empire, and we have since seen the systematic use of particular colours adopted in the portrayal of grief. It was only in the 19th century that the act of wearing black become a fine art for women in Europe and across the western world.
Continue reading ‘Memento Mori- Mourning dress in Australia’
Ted Docker Image courtesy: Einar Docker
One of the more recent entries to the Australian Dress Register website has been a typical 1930’s mans’ suit from the Powerhouse Museums’ own collection. The suit belonged to Ted Docker and was acquired in 1994 by donation from his son John Docker.
Continue reading ‘History Week 2012 Threads – Ted Docker – Enemy of the State?’
Collection: Powerhouse Museum. Object number 93/277/1.
Here’s a rare treat for History Week: a richly illustrated and gilded porcelain plate that links the threads we wear with history, science, and the processes used in the textile and ceramic industries. The plate was made in the French town of Sevres in 1830 and depicts textile dyeing in another French town, Jouy-en-Josas. The use of colour in these industries depended on both craft knowledge and scientific understanding, and it was achieved through cooperation between factory workers and chemists.
Continue reading ‘History Week 2012 Threads – Sevres plate depicting textile dyeing process’
It is thought this ice-filled face in a Burberry helmet is the meteorologist, C.T. Madigan, on Mawson’s expedition. John George Hunter collection of photographs of Antarctica, 1911-1914, courtesy of Flickr.
In earlier blogs I have written with great enthusiasm about the sledges and food taken on Dr Douglas Mawson’s 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). Now I find myself similarly excited about some of the clothing from this expedition in our collection. Two items are particularly interesting, a windproof helmet and large pair of over trousers. Both were made by the famous London clothing firm, Burberry. In 1911 each member of Mawson’s expedition was fitted out with two Burberry polar outfits at a cost of 100 pounds each member. One suit comprised three pieces: trousers, blouse-jacket and helmet, whilst the other was made of two; the blouse-jacket and helmet being combined.
Continue reading ‘History Week 2012 Threads – what Mawson wore in Antarctica’
Gulgong Pioneers Museum. Image courtesy Mudgee tourism
I was contacted late last year by Marie Gorie from the Gulgong Pioneers Museum about a project she was about to undertake. She wanted to re-order the textile store. Maintaining a collection store takes a lot of time and resources and obviously, as the collection grew, some of the maintenance had slipped.
Continue reading ‘Gulgong Pioneers Museum Blog’
2011/50/1 Tenango (embroidery), made by the Otomi people, Tenango, Hidalgo, Mexico, 2008-2009,gift of Robert Sweica, 2011. Collection: Powerhouse Museum
The vibrant Mexican colours and motifs of the Otomi textiles have not escaped the eye of French fashion house, Hermes, which has translated them into beautiful embroidered scarves.
Continue reading ‘Hermes scarves inspired by the Otomi’
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