item details
NameCostume design for Pageant of British Queens
ProductionMollie Rodie Mackenzie; artist; 1939; Wellington
Classificationdrawings, design drawings, fashion illustrations
Materialspaper, poster colour, ink
Materials Summaryposter paint on paper
Techniquesillustration
DimensionsOverall: 246mm (width), 320mm (height)
Registration NumberGH016498
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.
The pageant included 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).