Evening Dress

This dress was commissioned by Louisa Seddon from Madame Frédéric, a London court dressmaker, in 1902. The silk organza dress, which is trimmed with black spotted silk net, machine made and needle made lace, ribbon applique, jet beads and black sequins, formed part of Louisa's wardrobe for the 1902 coronation celebrations, which she was attending in London with her husband, Richard Seddon, the premier of New Zealand.

A recipient of several royal warrants, Madame Frédéric’s label, which is sewn onto the internal waistband, features the combined arms of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

Madame Frédéric was the trading name of Baroness Franzisca von Hedemann (c. 1849-1931), a German dressmaker who established her business in London in 1893. Her well-appointed rooms were located in Lower Grosvenor Place, where they overlooked the gardens of Buckingham Palace. Her elite clients included Princess Mary Adelaide (1833-1897) and her daughter Duchess of Cornwall and York, Princess Mary of Teck. Madame Frédéric designed the latter's wardrobe for her 1901 Royal Tour of  Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, where they were hosted by Richard and Louisa Seddon. As the Duke and Duchess were in mourning for Queen Victoria, Madame Frédéric rendered the Duchess' entire wardrobe in different shades and textures of black. A reporter for the Poverty Bay Herald admiringly observed that ‘the materials used are so varied and rich, and the designs so elegant, that there is no suggestion of sameness about them’.