The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. This silk and lace evening dress was made for Lily Clara Wishart (Mayoress of Kew 1906-7) by her niece, Mary Clara Cresswell (nee Skewes), who according to the donor, Lily's great niece, was a 'high class dressmaker'. It is one of two items in the Fashion Collection owned and by Clara Wishart.Long black fine lace evening dress buttoned to the waist at rear. The machine made lace on net fabric features a leaf pattern. Long black silk taffeta shift matching the lace evening dress.women's clothing, evening dresses, evening wear, australian fashion, lily clara wishart

The Fashion & Design collection of Kew Historical Society includes examples of textiles dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the textiles, were used as items of clothing, others as items of household decoration, or simply as travel souvenirs. These textiles were created both domestically and internationally. Predictably with the growth of an ethnically and culturally more diverse community in Kew after the Second World War, textiles, clothing and objects in the collection inevitably reflected this diversity.Fitted black silk cape or shawl, joined at the neck, and incorporating embroidery of the same colour. The item includes extensive, double-row fringing. On examination of the piece, it would appear that it was constructed from a Manila de Manton (piano shawl). It has been provisionally dated to either the late-Victorian or Edwardian periods.fashion and textiles collection - kew historical society, shawls

Coffee coloured chemisette with lace. Machine sewn with two layers of netting applied by hand. Pink and green bullion knots worked on top net layer which is of machine made lace already embroidered and assembledlace, women's clothing, australian fashion

A wooden racquet with a convex throat, and a cork inlaid handle. Inscription across the throat and stem of the obverse: DOUBLE/MAIN/1/GGB/BUSSEY'S/TENSIVE/GRIP. Inscription across right side of stem: GEO. G. BUSSEY & CO./LONDON. Inscription across left side of stem: HIGH TENSION. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, String, Leather, Corktennis

A wooden racquet with a convex throat, red whipping, and a ball handle. Inscription across the throat and along the stem of the obverse: THE/TOURNAMENT/2/GEO.G.BUSSEY&CO. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Stringtennis

A wooden racquet with a laminated, convex throat, and grooved handle. Decal logo on throat on obverse comprises of a winged ball, with inscription: VICTOR/.../SPORTING GOODS CO. Decal inscription across throat on reverse: VANTAGE. Materials: Wood, Gut, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, String, Leather, Ink, Painttennis

A wooden racquet with solid, and tapered, convex throat, cloth tape shoulder reinforcements, and medium grooved handle. Features early use of laminated wood strips, nailed to side of stem, and up along throat and lower head. This is also painted brown. Inscription across throat on obverse: TUNMER/"SPECIAL". Inscription across butt cover, in French: A.A. TUNMER/& CO.//PARIS/A GARDER SOUS PRESSE. Adhered onto the throat on obverse is a small metallic - possibly silver - monogram, possibly spelling the initials K.B. On the throat on reverse, is inscription in French and Latin: MARQUE DE FABRIQUE DEPOSEE/ATA/IN HOC SIGNO VINCES. Materials: Wood, Gut, Cloth tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Leather, Metal, Painttennis

A wooden racquet with solid, convex throat, cloth tape shoulder reinforcements, and deep grooved handle. Features early use of laminated wood strips, nailed to side of stem, and up along throat and lower head. Inscription across throat on obverse: TUNMER/"SPECIAL". Inscription across butt cover, in French: A.A. TUNMER/& CO.//PARIS/A GARDER SOUS PRESSE. On the throat on reverse, is inscription in French and Latin: MARQUE DE FABRIQUE/DEPOSEE/ATA/IN HOC SIGNO VINCES. Materials: Wood, Gut, Cloth tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Leather, Metal, Painttennis

A Tryon Eclipse tennis racquet with a laminated convex throat, and fine-grooved handle. Details feature on obverse. Model name ECLIPSE features across crown. Inscription across throat: EDW. K. TRYON CO./PHILADELPHIA,/PA. Materials: Wood, Gut, Ink, Leather, Cloth, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A Bussey Club badminton racquet, with grooved handle grip. Impressed model name across throat, and manufacturer's name along shaft, on obverse. Materials: Wood, Gut, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

A ply-wood paddle, with a handle/shaft slightly tapering from the butt to the throat. Obverse and reverse of shaft/handle feature basic carved design. Materials: Wood, Metal, Glue, Lacquertennis

A ply-wood paddle, with rounded butt. Materials: Wood, Metal, Glue, Lacquertennis

A ply-wood paddle, with squared butt. Materials: Wood, Metal, Glue, Lacquertennis

A small leather bound ball, most likely used for play in the sport of racquets - the original, hardball version, of squash racquets, known popularly today as squash. Materials: Leather, String, Twinetennis

A small leather bound, Slazenger ball, most likely used for play in the sport of racquets - the original, hardball version, of squash racquets, known popularly today as squash. Materials: Leather, String, Twine, Inktennis

Book: 'BALL, BAT AND BISHOP: THE ORIGIN OF BALL GAMES'. Hardcover with plastic protective jacket. First edition. Materials: Ink, Paper, Cardboard, Plastictennis

An olive cloth carry bag, with black fabric lining, and a leather carry handle. Two buckles feature inside to hold racquet. Bag is secured by three blue leather strapped buckles on outside. Materials: Cloth, Leather, Metaltennis

Artists proof of colour print depicting young boy in baggy cap holding an Argus racquet and armful of Dunlop tennis balls. Image commissioned by Dunlop for use in advertising poster. Under UV glass. Materials: Ink, Paper, Metal, Wood, Glasstennis

Print (reproduction) of a woman in fifteenth century costume swinging a baseball-like bat and throwing a white ball into the air. Title text states: 'JEU DE PALME/XIV E/SIECLE'. Materials: Paper, Ink, Cardboard, Wood, Metaltennis

Silver-plated trophy with crossed racquets motif. Materials: Silver/Metaltennis

A silver cigaretter lighter, with cloth wick and image in relief on front depicting two figures playing tennis. Marks on base: 'PAT.A' and 'AS' as well as a horse & crown stamp. Materials: Silver/Metal, Cotton, Steel/Metal compositetennis

A 'Lawn Tennis Measure' retractable tape in circular brass housing. Brass winding handle attached to centre of housing. Housing engraved with instructions and measurements for a standard lawn tennis court. Materials: Brass/Metal composite, Cloth tapetennis

Box containing a metal ground staple and screw bracket for anchoring a tennis net. Possible part of larger tennis set. Cover of box states:THE GRASS COURT SET OF NET BAND GROUND STAPLE AND ADJUSTER FOR LAWN TENNIS'. Inside of lid states: THE GRASS COURT SET'. Materials: Cardboard, Ink, Paper, Metaltennis

Drinking bottle with embossed text: 'J B TENNIS/HAMPTON, VA'. On reverse: 'THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD'. Hooked metal stopper. Materials: Glasstennis

Carved & painted wood button, depicting tennis player. Materials: Wood, Pigmenttennis

Pages 123-4, of a book, featuring a story entitled: HAPPY HOLIDAYS. Recto features text, verso features a coloured print image of children playing tennis, with parents sitting in background. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

A cardboard container forA.W. Gamage shuttlecocks. Contains two shuttlecocks (pair of objects numbered 2009.359) not believed to be original contents. Materials: Cardboard, Inktennis

Painted bisque figurine of a youth in pink hat holding a tennis racquet and ball. Materials: Ceramictennis

Silver-plated napkin ring with racquet motif. Materials: Silver/Metaltennis