PRECIOUS: The paletot jacket which is worn over the top of the 1860s bustle dress. Photo/supplied
PRECIOUS: The paletot jacket which is worn over the top of the 1860s bustle dress. Photo/supplied
A precious piece of Killen family history will finally be on display inalarge showcase for all the world to see at the Western Bay Museum.
Today Te Papa's textile/costume conservator Sam Gatley will start the process of setting up the 1860s bustle dress onaspecially sized mannequin.
Museum manager Paula Gaelicsays the 156-year-old dress was gifted to the museum by Killen family descendant, Dr Barbara Smith three years ago.
Paula never had the appropriate facility to store it or display it at the time, so asked Fiona Kean, curator of the Tauranga Collection to store it. The bodice and jacket were put into an archival box and housed there up until recently.
Paula got the dress back when she knew she had an appropriate facility. "This is the first time the bustle dress will have been displayed," she says.
Paula had to email the conservator measurements and photographs to be assessed prior toapurpose fitmannequin being ordered.
Ms Gatley is running a workshop at the museum today in preparation to mount the dress, which is made of brown silk satan gingham with velvet trim. The bodice is attached to the skirt with hooks and eyes with a paletot (loose) jacket over the top. The dress was dated by the sleeve shape.
Paula is unaware of when a museum-qualified conservator was last in the region, but she is very willing to share with other museums. Guests are coming from The Elms, Tauranga City Council Archives, Tauranga Historic Society, Kawerau Museum, Waikato Coalfields Museum, Athenree Homestead, Western Bay of Plenty District Council staff and volunteers from Western Bay Museum.
