Dressing tables (also known as Vanity Tables in the U.S.A.) have been around since the beginning of the seventeenth century, however it wasn't until the early to mid 20th century that they began to be found in the homes of the middle class and they were often a matching part of a bedroom suite. Dressing tables often featured a variety of objects such as combs, brushes, hand mirrors, perfume bottles, cosmetics, nail buffers, ring holders, jewellery and trinket boxes and trays. The origins of this tray are unknown however its design is reminiscent of trays (and Dressing Table Sets) produced by two English firms in the mid 20th century - "Delina" and "Regent of London". A paper (written by the Warwickshire Industrial Archeology Society) notes that the products items produced by "Regent of London" in the 1940's "satisfied a demand for previously unattainable items, offered to the general public aching for change after wartime privations, post war austerity and years of having to 'make do and mend'." This tray is composed of several decorative elements and materials. The metal border is gilt brass with two filigree bow handles, the main part of the tray is two pieces of circular glass and the encased doily is a mix of embroidered net and petit point. It was suggested in the paper written by the Warwickshire Industrial Archeological Society that the different pieces would have probably been produced elsewhere and brought to the factory to be assembled into the finished product. This vanity or dressing table tray is significant as it is a rare example of an accessory available to and used by women in the mid 20th century. It is also significant as an example of an everyday household item which would have been a valued possession and was made in a style that reflected the importance placed on it to be decorative as well as functional.Round footed dressing table tray with a gilt brass border, filigree bow handles and an embroidered net and petit point doily encased in glass. The gilt border is decorated with a stylized leaf design on the side and a floral design on the top. The petit point embroidery in the center is of five flowers in pink, mauve and yellow surrounded by buds and leaves.vanity tray, dressing table tray, glass tray, gilt brass, petit point, embroidery, net embroidery, doily, filigree, brass tray, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill museum and village, domestic object, dressing table

‘Unidentified’ is part of a body of work challenging distinctions between art and craft, looking at the relationship between women and needlework, and through this questioning aspects of the human condition such as the impermanence of life and what we leave behind. This triptych is part of a series of portraits inspired by daguerreotypes. I am interested in capturing a sense of the ephemeral nature of life which is reflected in these images which appear as photographs from a distance but become less and less focussed as you approach until they become just stitches on fabric.Wangaratta Art Gallery CollectionThree separate black and white petit point pixelated portraits.ying chew, petit point, textile, embroidery

This bag belonged to by Mrs Alice "May" Moss CBE (1869-1948), Australian suffragist, social welfare campaigner and longtime resident of 59 North Road, Brighton. Born Alice Frances Mabel Wilson in Ballarat, in 1887 May married Isidore Moss, the son of Norwood's builder Mark Moss. While her children were young, she began to campaign for the rights of women and served as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League in 1906-14, during which time she actively campaigned in Victoria for women's suffrage. She was an Australian delegate at the League of Nations Assembly at Geneva in 1927, where she was the first woman to sit on a finance committee. She attended the International Council of Women in Geneva in the same year and in 1928 was elected as vice president of the ICW, a position she held until her death. She was the first president of the National Council of Women of Australia, serving from 1931 to 1936. May was active in many other community organisations and causes, including the Royal Women's Hospital, the Collingwood Crèche and the Free Kindergarten movement. She served on the board of management of the City Newsboys' Society in 1906-48 and was the first woman lay-member of the National Health and Medical Research Council in 1936-45. She was also member of the International and Lyceum clubs, with an interest in the theatre, painting and woodcarving.French petit point tapestry bag featuring seven people in a bucolic scene, with trees and buildings in the background. Black border. Gold metal hinged opening with ornamental clasp and gold chain.may moss, petit point, 1930s

It was common for ladies to embroider household textiles in the early 20th century. These could be made from purchased kits or pattern books. They may form part of a trousseau Circular knitted white doily with petit point embroidered on net centre. doilys, household textiles

Belonged to Joan Fitzmaurice, mother in law of donor, who got the bag from her mother (Mrs Wharton) in England in the 1940's. Joan was a Knitter not a sewer.A cream linen bag - half circle pleated onto a yoke with a strap handle. Yoke decorated with appliqued crinoline lady in an embroidered cottage garden of hollyhocks. Border and strap in green embroidery. Body of bag decorated in petit - point of vase of flowers.handcrafts, knitting

Blousettes were popular for ladies wear under suits and cardigans in the 1930's and 1940's. Part of the Bette Jones collection.Fine voile and net blousette (blouse front and back); cream coloured. Ties at side- elastic at waist and back, satin ribbon at front and back. Front panel of three vertical panels of petit-point coloured flowers, centre panel flanked, each side, by four rows of cotton edging lace. Stand-up net collar of three rows of same edging lace. Back neck opening fastened with metal hooks and eyes.costume, female underwear