It’s a classy silk robe with elaborate red flower embroidery and is a considerable piece of Australian fashion history.
However, the beautiful 250-year-old mantua was once viewed as a “form of undress” and unsuitable for use on the streets.
Freya Harrington, a textiles custodian and historian, told Joel Rheinberger that “what’s truly interesting about the venice from a traditional fashion perspective is that it was really rather a radical dress for women at the time.”
” It was far too lightly fit,” she said.
According to Ms. Harrington, the costume is Tasmania’s oldest.
The costume is 250 years older and was probably made in England. ( Supplied: Freya Harrington )The clothing belonged to renowned actor, scientist and creator Louisa Anne Meredith, who lived at Swansea.
According to Ms. Harrington, the dress was passed down through Meredith’s home before being given to the East Coast Heritage Museum about 20 years earlier.
She praised the work as “an absolutely beautiful piece of history and style design.”
A particular clothing
According to Ms. Harrington, the clothing and silk chiffon velvet cloth were most likely created in England as early as 1770.
In 1866, Louisa Anne Meredith was seen wearing it at Tasmania’s Government House.
In 1866, Louisa Anne Meredith donned the outfit for a effectiveness at Government House. ( Supplied: )“So it likely belonged to the era before Louisa, perhaps her mother or another household part,” she said.
She evidently brought it with her when she immigrated to Tasmania.
It’s simply remarkable to have that proof that she actually wore it.
According to Ms. Harrington, the outfit has been altered over time.
She said, “She kind of changed it to be a little bit more Romantic and appropriate for the Victorian style of humility at the time.”
Among many other issues, Meredith wrote and produced theater performances, and the photo was taken during a Christmas efficiency.
Origins of the reims
Despite being quite well-liked among Parisians, the reims was first discovered in France in the 1670s but ended up being outlawed by the European court.
It wasn’t really appropriate to be seen on the street, according to Ms. Harrington.
However, it gained traction in England, and later the French court accepted it.
The reims then became the design for all women’s dresses in the 18th century.
Unlike other attire, the mantua was made by women — much to the indignation of the stylists’ groups, which were restricted to gentlemen.
Preserving the outfit
Meredith’s costume was past displayed officially in first 2023 at the Narryna Heritage Museum in Hobart.
Designer, scientist and Swansea native Louisa Anne Meredith, from the Beattie set. ( Supplied: The Royal Society of Tasmania )We took some excellent pictures of it, properly boxed it away, lined it up with a lot of acid-free tissue paper, and ensured that she was content to leave and get some beauty sleep, according to Ms. Harrington.
We “absolutely want to make sure that she’s going to be able to be displayed again in the coming.”
There had to be a compromise, according to Ms. Harrington, between keeping the gown intact and allowing the public to view it.
Because nobody will ever love everything, she said, “There’s no real point keeping it,” she said.
However, it’s unfair to love it so many that no one will be able to enjoy it in the future.
The dress, according to her, is considered to be quite delicate and needs stabilization work before being displayed again due to another textile conservator.
“Under the chest is sort of falling apart, and the bottom of the hem is really tattered.”