Woman's bodice

Faded glory

This bodice has been fashioned from pale pink silk, brocaded with large flowers in green, blue, pink and ivory. The bodice is has been trimmed with a blue and orange woven silk fringe, and lined with with a glazed plain weave linen. Both have been stitched in place with large running stitches.

Fading patterns are evident across the back of the bodice, as are tracks of regularly spaced holes. The fading lines and stitch holes demonstrate that the bodice is made from unpicked fabric.

The construction suggests that this item may have been made for fancy dress.

Ethel Brilliana Tweedie

The waistcoat was bequeathed to the Dominion Museum, now Te Papa, by Ethel Alec Tweedie on her death in 1940. A well-known English journalist and travel writer, Mrs Tweedie as avid textile collector and needlewoman.