The Kew Historical Society's Fashion & Design collection includes a small and representative collection of reticules, purses and handbags, purchased, inherited or collected by members of the Society. These items date from the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries, and conform to fashions and styles popular during the period of their use. Some of the items are handmade, while others are mass-produced commercial products.Black evening bag with fabric covered metal frame. Flat black strap. Same colour cornelli embroidered exterior decoration.handbags, evening bags, fashion accessories, grace james collection

Cornelli embroidery (or Cornely work) is a refined, decorative embroidery technique characterized by its lace-like, intricate, and raised texture. It involves applying a cord, braid, or ribbon to fabric in a continuous, flowing, and often swirling pattern.Beige linen pouch bag decorated with cornelly cord work in a grey/beige colour.embroidery, bags, 1920-40, cornelli work

This waistcoat belonged to Olga Black, a long-time Brighton resident. Part of a Greek national costume, it was designed by Olga in the 1950s, with the silver cornelli work completed by a Collins Street workshop. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Black velvet waistcoat, decorated with silver cornelli work. Pale blue cotton lining. Fastens with hooks and eyes.greece, ithaca, migration, olga black

A pink satin and cream machine lace bedspread made from alternative 13 to 14cm wide strips in a rectangular pattern with central rectangle set at 45 degrees. Three sides are edged with silk chenille bobbles in pink and cream. The central rectangle and the four corners surrounding the central rectangle have a floral cut work pattern in the silk overlaying the lace which has couched cornelli work.. The third satin rectangle from the outside has a looped and wave pattern in couched cornelli work, missing on one corner.favaloro, bedspread, satin, chenile bobble trim

This dress was worn by Nancy Kirsner (nee Rosenhain, b. 1906) and her older sister Mona (b. 1903) as children in England. Nancy Bertha Rosenhain was born in Worchestershire to German-Australian metallurgist Walter Rosenhain and Australian Louisa Rosenhain (nee Monash). Louisa was the sister of Sir John Monash; the couple met through a synagogue in Melbourne before settling in England. Nancy travelled to Melbourne in 1929 and was married to Marcus Kirsner on 24 July 1932. Nancy and Marcus lived together at 3 Baroona Court in Brighton.White cotton piqué dress. Square neck. Skirt gathered at waist. Broderie anglais trim around neck and sleeves. Hand-embroidered cornelli work on sleeves, bodice, and skirt. Small frill on skirt. Three self-covered buttons at back.children's clothing, 1900s, nancy bertha rosenhain, mona henrietta rosenhain, jewish diaspora

This garment would have been worn at an evening function by a lady of some considerable means. It dates from the late 19th century.This item has no known provenance and is retained for display purposes.This is a woman's black, knee length, satin theatre coat. It is ornamented with geometric and curved cornelli work. The shawl collar has a pointed back. It is fastened in the front with a large, satin covered black button. It is lined with black satin. It has full length sleeves, turned up at the ends and lined with satin.vintage clothing, woman's evening apparel

The elaborate fancy cotton braid known as Cornelli work on this jacket is a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. It was used on French doll's clothing where elaborate the Cornelli wear was stitched on for decoration. The examples used in this family also included that on men's railway uniforms and bandsmen's uniforms. This jacket belonged to Eleanor Burke (nee McKew) Mrs Mary Taffe's mother and came to Hymettus at Ballarat when she arrived here to live from Donald with husband Michael in 1945.This jacket displays elaborate fancy cotton stitching and braid known as Cornelli work, a technique of embroidery or applique of cotton thread and braid that became popular in the nineteenth century. This lady's jacket is a good example of a style popular at the end of the nineteenth, early twentieth century.