Marlborough Museum Collection of Textiles
Chemisette

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Record 197/334
Copyright Marlborough Museum - Marlborough Historical Society Inc
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Collection MHS (unaccessioned) Textiles
Date c1877
Description Chemisette, a short sleeveless bodice formerly worn as an undergarment by women. Manderin collar with cream net trimmed and laced with pale ribbons. Could be worn with the bodice in catalogue record 0000.600.0171.

The original Owner/Wearer was Mrs. Renwick of Dumgree. It is believed this is the second Mrs. Renwick (Anne nee Smith, widow of Dr. Thomas Renwick).

Anne Renwick was married for eight years (1872-1879 when Dr Renwick died). At this time she was a 27- to 35-year-old and these years included a trip to England in 1876/1877. This garment from a London store could well have been bought on that trip. [Source: email, 17 July 2010, from Elisabeth Airey to Jenny Pierson].

Anne Renwick lived at their home, '"Newstead" in Nelson before her husband's death in 1879. Her husband's nephew, also named Thomas, inherited "Dumgree", Dr. Thomas Renwick's Marlborough estate, but because of the nephew's illness Anne took over the running of the estate. Dumgree is in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough and Anne lived there, but she made frequent trips back to Nelson. There is a book in the MHS Archives library, "Renwick - the Story of a Pioneer Family", by Elisabeth Airey, published by the author in October 1979. There is a family tree on page 81.


Object ID 0000.600.0172
Object Name Chemisette
Other # T0841
People Renwick, Anne (nee Smith)
Smith, Anne (later Renwick)
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Last modified on: December 19, 2014