Costume design for Pageant of British Queens, 'Queen Elizabeth'

item details

NameCostume design for Pageant of British Queens, 'Queen Elizabeth'

ProductionMollie Rodie Mackenzie; artist; 1939; Wellington

Classificationdrawings, design drawings, fashion illustrations

Materialspaper, poster colour, ink

Materials Summaryposter paint on paper

Techniquesillustration

DimensionsOverall: 244mm (width), 316mm (height)

Registration NumberGH016494

Credit lineGift of Marion F. Mackenzie (née Rodie), 2009

Overview

This costume sketch was created by Mollie Rodie for the 'Spirit of Empire' pageant held as part of the Wellington Centennial Exhibition, November 1939 - March 1940.

Queen Elizabeth I was part of a parade of British queens, their attendants and ladies-in-waiting. The pageant was so successful that the costumes were reused again for a Red Cross pageant in September 1940, and again for the 'Procession of Queens of Britain' at the Victory Queen Carnival grand finale, Wellington Town Hall, June 1941.

Pageants and queen carnivals were popular ways to raise money during the Second World War (1939-45).

The Evening Post newspaper reported on the final realisation of this costume sketch: 'One of the handsomest gowns worn was that of Queen Elizabeth. It was of heavy white satin, the sleeves slashed to reveal emerald green, and a full hooped skirt opened over an emerald green satin petticoat on which was a double white satin design. A double, high transparent medici collar was worn, a handsome coronet of white satin and pearls, and ornaments of emeralds, pearls, and diamonds. A contrast was a red rose on the corsage and the red ribbons attached to a feather fan' (27 November 1939).