EARLY COLONISTS’ DISPLAY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 2

EARLY COLONISTS’ DISPLAY

EXHIBITS CHANGED The Early Colonists’ Exhibition at the Canterbury Museum, which has attracted thousands of visitors, has recently had considerable changes made in the costumes worn.

The figure in the entrance case is now wearing a dress of blue velvet and lemon plush which is said to be an Elizabethan costume, but is made on early Victorian lines and worn over a crinoline frame. The dress was worn by Mrs Studholme (nee Ellen Moorhouse) to a fancy dress ball at Government House in the early seventies. The clothing worn by the boy in the setting for the bedroom of a Christchurch house in the sixties is unusual. His costume consists of a grey, red and black plaid frock with a matching jacket. This outfit was originally worn by Cecil Greaves in 1851. The black brocade dress worn by the woman was worn by Miss Mary White in the sixties, and was presented to the museum by her great-niece, Miss J. Storry. The dolman was made from a shawl of Indian embroidery in fine wool, lined with wine sain. This was brought out from India by Mr James Lance in 1861. The atmosphere of the late Victorian drawing room has been changed from an afternoon to an evening scene. Evening gowns of the period are shown to advantage. They include a hme green satin gown with cream net flounces edged with bronze satin ribbon; a cream satin gown trimmed with metallic thread and tulle; and a rubv satin and brocade gown with black lace and velvet trimming. The contents of several of the costume cases have also been changed. One of these contains some interesting accessories including a brocade parasol with a folding ivory handle which was brought out by Mrs W. Reeves in the Rose of Sharon in January 1857. A grey silk bonnet of the style worn in the forties and a brown have been lent by the Victoria and Albert Museum. London. Another costume case features hats of the nineties and of the Edwardian period. Some of the women’s hats are almost unbelievably large and lavishly trimmed There is also a collection of feather boas, sunshades and parasols. Hats of the period from 1910 to 1930 are featured in a third case. Also m tnis case is a collection of muffs. Of particular interest is one made of the skin of an emperor penguin. The muff m hem oresented to the museum by o*2 whom it was given by Mr T. V. Hodgson, a member of the Biscoverv expedition. The rearrangements in the display “ a ’ e been ™de by Miss Rose Reynolds. custodian of costumes at the museum.