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Shire of Toodyay > Records

LADIES VEST, PART OF TWO PIECE OUTFIT

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1860

Subcollections

Costume & textiles

Overview

Vest, one piece of a two piece outfit.
handmade, fastens at front with hooks and eyes, hooks along lower edge.
Six enclosed stays made of willow.
Outer is weighted silk, teal green with black stripe, black seed beading on webbing in one piece over shoulders and upper back.
Black chiffon ruching along neck and front edge. Cotton piping on armhole. Linen facing.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-37-2004.7b

Item type

Material

Width

560 mm

Height or length

390 mm

Themes

Contextual Information

"Weighted silk" is silk which has been treated to restore or increase the weight lost during the process of degumming. This processing started in the 19th century, with vegetable-based solutions such as tannins or sugar. Chemical solutions based upon salts of lead or tin were then used, as well as silicate, phosphate of soda, and astringent extracts.These increased the weight considerably, but led to accusations of adulteration as the properties of the silk were impaired.

Year

1860

Links to additional resources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighted_silk

Shire of Toodyay

Shire of Toodyay

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