Collection |
MHS (unaccessioned) Textiles |
Date |
1920s |
Description |
Black two-piece full-length evening gown and bolero from the 1920s.
Gown is cut on the cross to cling to the hips, with a 178cm train at the back. The bodice has wide straps over the shoulders, which drop smoothly to centre back waist. Gown opening centre back fastened with five domes and five hooks. Centre back accented with stylised flower in gown material and centred with metallic flower. Seams hand finished. Decolletage cut low, almost to waistline at centre back. The bust is shaped by incorporating a half gusset under the arm.
Collarless bolero is open at the front and trimmed with 16 small flat bows. Front fastened with ten metal domes, set in sleeves heavily gathered on top of shoulders then tapered to wrists. Wrist opening fastened with two metal domes. Finishes at waist. Stiffened on shoulders. Five open darts at centre back.
Textile manager, Pam Saunders, says this two-piece evening gown and bolero was donated by Mrs. Joan Bennett (Mrs. Joan Bennett is of 25 Weld Street, Blenheim, in the 1996 electoral roll).
17 September 2009, description from Textile Manager, Pam Saunders: "Evening gown with bolero. Black rayon (?)gown with single silver thread stripes. Bodice form-fitting which moulds figure. Decolletage cut low to almost waistline at centreback. Bust shaped by incorporation half gusset under arm. Skirt is cut on cross. Half circle inset into skirt at centreback forms a long train with two large inverted pleats with two smaller pleats on top. This in turn covers centreback opening which is fastened with 5 metal domes and hooks. Centreback accentuated with stylised flower in gown material and centred with metallic flower (same material as shoulder spray - painted silver metallic paint). Seams hand finished. Bra strap holder on each shoulder. Bolero. Collarless open at front trimmed with 16 small flat bows. Front fastened with 10 metal domes. Set-in sleeves gathered on each top shoulder tapered to fit wrist. Wrist opening fastened with two metal domes. Finishes at waist. Five tucks at centre back. There are two semicircles of heavy stiff linen handsewn on the shoulder seam put to puff out the gathers on top sleeve in. Condition: Excellent. Has a small tear on the hemline. Some of the silver painted leaves are loose." |
Object ID |
2010.024.0008 |
Object Name |
Gown, Evening |
Other # |
T4455 |
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