This top hat belonged to bank manager Walter Tom Washington (1870-1948). Walter emigrated to Victoria from the Isle of Man at the age of eleven with his family in 1884. His daughter Lucy Frances Morrison (1905-2005) donated his hat to the Society in 1977, while she was living in Brighton. She recalled that he had purchased the hat for a wedding in 1911 and would wear it to church on Sundays. Established in London in 1773 by Miller Christy, Christys' continues to manufacture hats today. Their hats have been worn by members of the British royal family, Winston Churchill and Marlon Brando in the film 'The Godfather'.Black plush silk top hat with cream silk lining and leather and padded cloth interior bands. Black wool band.Label, printed in blue on crown silk lining: ENGLISH MANUFACTURE / CHRISTYS' LONDON'top hat, silk plush, nineteenth century, christy & co, christys', menswear, walter tom washington

Oblong green plush velvet glove holder with 'Gloves' embroidered in pink and pink binder. Lined with pink silk and pink ribbon ties at ends.costume accessories, glove accessories

Variably described as mantel hangings, pelmets or valances, these became a common form of Victorian interior decoration in the second half of the 19th century. The hanging uses arrasene embroidery which was introduced for artistic embroidery c.1883. Arrasene embroidery was a variation of chenille embroidery and was mainly used for curtain borders, mantel hangings and screens. When used to embroider flowers on velvet or plush, it was sewn upon the surface without being ‘drawn through’. Madonna lilies, irises, daffodils and narcissi were commonly used in designs of mantel hangings.Velvet mantel hanging embroidered with chenille thread. The scalloped edge of the pelmet is bordered by multicoloured silk cording. This example was owned by Netty Cornish of 15 Peel Street, Kew, and donated by her daughter, Mrs F Plumridge in 1980. The embroidered flowers in this example include narcissi and roses.mantel pelmet, peel street, kew, nettie cornish, mary plumridge