An item from an outstanding and diverse collection of photographs, artefacts and publications, assembled by members of the Christian and Washfold families of Kew.Small brown cardboard box containing folding metal scissors, metal and bone pen knife and cylindrical metal container. Minor corrosion on knife and cylinder.functional accessories, scissors, christian-washfold collection

Small, orange and white tin box with hinged lid for one hundred detonators.On lid: "Nobel No. 6. 100 detonators for rich explosives. Alfred Nobel. Thistle Brand. Manufactured in Gt. Britain. Glasgow" "6 6" on front and back panels, "For use wherever safety fuse is allowed" on left side panel and "Must be handled with great care and kept dry. The composition must not be scratched or pricked with a pin, nail, knife blade or other hard substance, as any act of this kind may cause explosion" on the right side panel.explosives equipment

Used by Mr. N. BlagdonSilver child's cutlery set. Contains - 1 spoon, knife and fork all engraved. Also one serviette ring also engraved. All in box with blue satin and velvet lining.spoons, knives, forks, serviette rings, tableware, cutlery

BHS CollectionWaist length dark green cotton bodice. Fabric has alternating stripes of pulled thread pattern and wider stripes of small dot pattern. Front opening with deep V to waist with lined lace insert extending from throat to waist. LHS of bodice fastened to lace insert with five press studs. Stand up collar of lined black lace (%cm) fastened with two hook and eyes. The bodice is made from five pieces. The two front sections have three knife pleats facing out and falling from the shoulder. The pleats are stitched down for twenty cms from the shoulders. On either side of the front opening is decorative embroidered black lace that extends across the shoulders to the back of the collar. There are two side panels from under the arm. The back section has three box pleats falling from the collars and tapering to the waist. The hem of the bodice is fastened with black cotton tape. Leg of mutton sleeves are trimmed with black embroidered brais at elbow and wrist. Lower sleeves have pintucks from elbow to wrist. The sleeves are lined with black cotton fabric. The back of the bodice is lined with black cotton fabric almost to the hem. A three cm piece of white and blue cotton tape is attached across the lower back with cotton ties at either end. The underarm panels are lined with brown cotton fabric and green satin inserted sections. The front has a separate lining with front opening and shaped with darts. Fastened with six buttons and buttonholes. Two shoulder pads on each side- one white piece under the shoulder and a green satin piece under the gathered section of each sleeve. Dark green full length skirt. Cotton fabric with alternating stripes of pulled thread pattern and wider stripe of small dot pattern. Skirt is made of three sections. Centre front panel widens slightly to hemline. Side panels continue around to join at centre back. Darts at both hips to shape sides. Panels widen to hemline. Inverted pleats at either side of back opening create fullness. Back opening(30cm) has insert of black satin joined to LHS of opening to enlarge the opening. Insert attached to waist band with two press studs. Two other press studs attach skirt to RHS of insert. Brown cotton waistband hand stitched to skirt. Ties attached to waistband at back opening- one cotton tape, one satin ribbon. Front centre panel has a piece of black satin stitched as lining from eighteen cm below waist (57cm deep). Stitched across and attached to side seams. Lower edge trimmed with black lace. Second piece of satin lining stitched to centre seam and stitched around the hip to partway across back.(Looks like a nylon petticoat cut in two pieces and stitched inside skirt as a lining). Hemline has fifteen cm piece of cotton lining attached and lower edge of hem has fringed cotton binding attached.. Side seams of front panel have decorative trim of embroidered braid extending seventy-six cms from waist. Braid then turned ninety degrees and continued in a horizontal zig zag line around to centre back seam (both sides) twenty cms above hem. Hand and machine stitched.costume, female, ladies dress- bodice.

BHS CollectionFull length royal blue silk embroidered fabric dress with bodice and long sleeves, fully lined with ivory cotton fabric. Hand made. Front of bodice has round neck and dips to a deep V at waistline. Twelve decorative fabric covered buttons from neckline to lower V that taper to stitched down pleats at waistline. Fabric bow at centre front of neckline lined with blue satin. Long sleeves have short capped layer over a flared layer underneath. Top section edged with one row of royal blue cotton fringeing. Lower flared section edged with two rows of royal blue cotton fringeing. Large royal blue fabric bow attached at each elbow. Back of bodice made of six panels to waistline. Centre panel on each side is edged with cotton fringeing. Centre back opening to waist with nineteen hooks and eyes, only one eye remaining. Piping around waistline. Full skirt knife pleats at front below waist. Hemline edged with blue ribbed cotton ribbon. Card inside box with ''Wedding Gown Circa 1850's".costume, female, royal blue silk dress

This is a simple household labour-saving device. The box was fitted to the end of the table and knife polish was sprinkled on the cloth inside. The knife was then placed in the centre of the box and clamped in tightly. The knife was then pulled backwards and forwards several times (three seconds was the suggested time) and the object was then deemed to be polished. All households had cutlery of some sort and many had good silver pieces that were meant to be kept in a sparkling polished condition. This cleaner would have assisted those in a household assigned to the care of the cutlery. These would have included the women of the household, the children or domestic employees. This item is retained as an interesting example of a household labour-saving device from 100 years ago. This is a circular wooden box with an extra piece at one end of the base and a sliding top lid with a wooden knob. The lid lifts up and the inside of the box and the lid is covered with rough cloth. Some of this cloth has rotted away. The top of the lid has a printed label pasted on. This is torn and soiled. ‘Patent The Magic Knife and Fork Cleaner’ ‘I am handy and useful where’r I am used, To clean knives and forks brightly I never refuse, In mansion or cottage to both I do go, So buy me, and try me, my worth you will know.’ household devices, history of warrnambool