The dowry agreement was between Costas Raftopoulos and Joyia Karanze, who were married on 12 October 1924. In the agreement Costa Raftopoulos was to give Joyia items of furniture when they were married. Dowry agreements were an important aspect of an impending marriage between engaged couples.A photograph of a letter written in English outlining a dowry Agreement.

Inspired by Virginia's travels in India.Small framed piece described as mixed media, with beads, sequins, cords, lace, PVA glue and paint. Inspired by her travels in India. Virgina Mortmixed media, beads, lace, australia

Two identical white cotton pillow cases with lace inserts for the dowrywhite cotton pillow case with lace insert and the initials MGembroidered initials MG (Marcela Gec, married Bole)lace pillowcases, slovenian association melbourne, dowry, lace inserts

Traditional Banjara (also known as Lambani) are an historically nomadic trading community originating in the Mewar region of Rajasthan, before migrating across central and southern India. "Bagchi" or dowry bags, traditionally handmade and gifted during weddings and engagements. Cowrie shells symbolize prosperity and good luck.Indian Banjara dowry bag embroidered on linen/cotton with Florentine style stitches in red, yellow, green and blue. Nine red tassels with cowrie shells attached and draw string with two cowrie shells attached.india, bag

Marcela was in a convent school in Tomaj, Slovenia, where the nuns - the teachers encouraged the girls to learn embroidery and other crafts to start the dowry.Every girl tried to prepare the linen for the dowry. Marcela had great teachers and mentors in the craft.Light blue fine linen table cloth with a circle of pink embroidery and netting fine linen table clot, embroidery, netting, slovenian, italian school, slovenian association melbourne

Traditional Banjara (Tribal) bag from regions like Kutch in Gunjarat or Rajasthan, India. "Bagchi" or dowry bags, traditionally handmade and gifted during weddings and engagements.Heavily embroidered in a geometric design with shisha mirrors in reds, black and cream. Small pom poms attached. Cream and blue cord and blue bead.bag, india

The pillow case was a part of the wedding dowry of Zofia Mioduszewska. She maid it herself. It was tradition that every young girl had to prepare her own items needed in her new household. Made in 40s. example of embroidery from Podlachiawhite, linen pillow case initials ZG (Zofia Godlewska)craft, podlachia, poland, embroidery, wedding dowry

Khotro, or bag using fragment of Ahir embroidery. Includes shisha mirror work. Design includes parrots and peacocks. Small tassels and buttons decorate edge.bag, dowry, shiska, india, embroidery

Tablecloths were used to protect the table from damage when in use with cutlery, chinaware and general use. More decorative white cloths were used for special occasions and to show general position in society or wealth. The trousseau of a young woman in the 1900's consisted essentially of how many tablecloths she had collected - her dowry in many ways showed the more linen she had the wealthier she was. Included were napkins, bed linens, tea towels and various cloths for every household function and were to sustain the bride and her future family throughout their lifetime together.A white lace rectangular tablecloth with a floral pattern and wide scalloped edge.tablecloths, cloths, table linen, household textiles

A suzani is a large, hand-embroidered textile panel; the word comes from the Persian word suzan, which means needle. Originating from nomadic tribes in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, suzanis have become highly collectable and valued for their beautiful decoration and fine craftsmanship. They were traditionally made by brides and their mothers as part of a dowry, and presented to the groom on his wedding day. They represented the binding together of two families, and were adorned with symbols of luck, health, long life and fertility. Suzanis are made from cotton, sometimes silk. The pattern is first drawn onto the cotton, before being embroidered on narrow portable looms. They are usually produced in two or more pieces, meaning that they can be worked on by more than one person, before being stitched together. Just four stitches — tambour, basma, chain and kanda-khayol Cushion cover of embroidered Suzani on red cotton fabric. Embroidered with stylized floral design and foliage. Designs are embroidered in white, yellow, orange, bronze, pink, brown and black thread in tambour stitch.

A suzani is a large, hand-embroidered textile panel; the word comes from the Persian word suzan, which means needle. Originating from nomadic tribes in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, suzanis have become highly collectable and valued for their beautiful decoration and fine craftsmanship. They were traditionally made by brides and their mothers as part of a dowry, and presented to the groom on his wedding day. They represented the binding together of two families, and were adorned with symbols of luck, health, long life and fertility. Suzanis are made from cotton, sometimes silk. The pattern is first drawn onto the cotton, before being embroidered on narrow portable looms. They are usually produced in two or more pieces, meaning that they can be worked on by more than one person, before being stitched together. Just four stitches — tambour, basma, chain and kanda-khayol Panel of embroidered Suzani on green polyester fabric with maroon velvet border. Embroidered with stylized floral circular designs and foliage. Designs are embroidered in white, yellow, orange, bronze, pink, brown and black thread in tambour stitch. Backing is red cotton fabric. Border strips are embellished with machine patterned stitching.

A suzani is a large, hand-embroidered textile panel; the word comes from the Persian word suzan, which means needle. Originating from nomadic tribes in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, suzanis have become highly collectable and valued for their beautiful decoration and fine craftsmanship. They were traditionally made by brides and their mothers as part of a dowry, and presented to the groom on his wedding day. They represented the binding together of two families, and were adorned with symbols of luck, health, long life and fertility. Suzanis are made from cotton, sometimes silk. The pattern is first drawn onto the cotton, before being embroidered on narrow portable looms. They are usually produced in two or more pieces, meaning that they can be worked on by more than one person, before being stitched together. Just four stitches — tambour, basma, chain and kanda-khayol Part of a piece of embroidered Suzani in red cotton with corner embroidered with circular designs and framed corner panel. Designs are embroidered in white, cream, blue and black thread in tambour stitch. Backing is a floral yellow fabric. Green tassels on two sides with spangles attached.

Josiah Wedgwood (1730–95), came from an established family of potters and trained with his elder brother. He was in partnership with the leading potter Thomas Whieldon from 1754 until 1759 when a new green ceramic glaze he had developed encouraged him to start a new business on his own. Relatives leased him the Ivy House in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, and his marriage to Sarah Wedgwood, a distant cousin with a sizeable dowry, helped him launch his new venture. After an extensive and systematic program of experiment Wedgwood in 1765 created a new variety of creamware, a fine glazed earthenware, which was the main body used for his table wares thereafter. After he supplied Queen Charlotte with a tea set for twelve the same year, she gave official permission to call it "Queen's Ware" (from 1767). This new form, perfected as white pearlware (from 1780), sold extremely well across Europe, and to America. It had the additional advantage of being relatively light, saving on transport costs and import tariffs in foreign markets. Wedgwood developed several further industrial innovations for his company, notably a way of measuring kiln temperatures accurately, and several new ceramic bodies including the "dry-body" Stoneware, "black basalt" (by 1769), cane ware, and jasperware (the 1770s), all designed to be sold unglazed, like "biscuit porcelain". In the later 19th century the company returned to being a leader in the design and technical innovation, as well as continuing to make many of the older styles. Despite increasing local competition in its export markets, the business continued to flourish in the 19th and early 20th centuries, remaining in the hands of the Wedgwood family, but after World War II it began to contract, along with the rest of the English pottery industry. After buying several other Staffordshire ceramics companies, in 1987 Wedgwood merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood plc, an Ireland-based luxury brands group. After a 2009 purchase by KPS Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm. Wedgwood has always been associated with fine china, porcelain, and luxury accessories, the entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood rapidly became successful and was soon one of the largest manufacturers of Staffordshire pottery. Wedgwood is a significant pottery manufacturer as the company is especially associated with the "dry-bodied" (unglazed) stoneware Jasperware in contrasting colours, and in particular that in "Wedgwood blue" and white that has become a trademark. Teapot and lid, Wedgwood blue Jasperware with white patternImpressed name Wedgewood and date letter "S" = 1890flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, teapot, wedgewood blue, wedgewood teapot, tea pot, kitchen ware, josiah wedgwood, staffordshire potteries

The blouse was made in Greece about 1945. The method used to create this fine embroidery was to copy a design from a cross stitch embroidery book guided by fine white tapestry threads tacked onto the yolk; when the design was finished, the embroiderer would pull out each fine white tapestry thread until only the embroidery remained around the yolk of the blouse.Throughout the centuries and up until the 1970s-80s, the women of Ithaca spun, wove, embroidered and knitted. Mothers prepared their daughters' 'glory boxes' trousseau (prikia), weaving bedspreads, rag mats (koureloudes) for everyday use, finer wool rugs for formal use, as well as linen sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels and tablecloths. Linen was also woven to make the mattress that the young brides would take to their future homes. Mothers also wove and embroidered the fabric for their daughters' underwear and petticoats, nightgowns, etc. Sewing of the garments was also done by hand. The girls embroidered handicrafts using various stitches, they crocheted lace, netted pillows and even linen carpets. The handicrafts were usually embroidered by hand in cross-stitch using linen and cotton fabric. At the time there were merchants who travelled to the villages to sell machine made goods for the trousseaus, but most of the dowries consisted of the beautifully crafted work of the women. In the 30's the SINGER Company came to Ithaca and taught the girls sewing on the machine. A handwoven silk blouse. Colour - ecru. Hand embroidered, hand sewn, very fine white tapestry was tacked round the yolk; a gusset was sewn under each short puff sleeve at the armpit; two-tone hand made silk thread cords were passed through the hollow border of the sleeves and neckline.

The lady seated at the singer sewing machine creating a embroidered handicraft is a young Adamandine (Mandina) Varvaregos. The photo was taken before she migrated to Australia in 1938. She married Nicholas Dracoulis and had five children, Anastasia, Peter, George, Andrew and Phillip. Mandina was very active member of the Society.Up until the advent of the sewing machine handicrafts and dowries were embroidered using linen and cotton fabric and all done by hand. However, in the late 20s and early 30's the SINGER Company came to Ithaca and taught the girls embroidery on the machine. Even in those days there were merchants who travelled to the villages and sold machine made goods for the trousseaus, but most of the dowries consisted of the beautifully crafted work of the women.A copy of a photograph of a lady sitting at a treadle sewing machine in an outdoor area.

Vasiliki Raftopoulosi is pictured crocheting a very fine border in a traditional design. Vasiliki was the mother of Efstathia (Toula) Mavrokefalos (Black) and the grandmother of Nina and Olga Black, both well known in Melbourne's Greek community for their contribution to Greek language and culture. Vasiliki and her family left Ithaca for Romania when Toula was only six months old. As a child while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila, Toula also learned sewing and 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. On a visit to Ithaca Toula happened to be on the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Like many Ithacans Constantine had returned to Greece from Australia for the Balkan wars. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Many Greek women were skilled in the making of fine lace and crochet articles which they used and displayed in their homes. Finely stitched and woven linen items were an essential part of a young woman's dowry when she married.A black and white photograph in an oval frame of a lady crocheting a lace band.