Summary

Alternative name: cape; bolero jacket.

Black velvet capelet, which was owned and worn by Mirka Mora circa 1950s-1960s. The jacket displays a label for 'Georges Ladies Tailors & Outfitters' whose famous store was at Collins Street in Melbourne and its Edwardian-era style suggests that it was acquired by Mirka as a retro-style piece. She enjoyed wearing clothing from a variety of eras.

This is one of a collection of artist's materials, sewing equipment, clothing and personal items relating to the life and work of iconic Melbourne artist Mirka Mora, sourced from her Richmond artist studio in 2019.

Physical Description

Black velvet capelet with ruched edges, metal hook and eye fastening (possibly not original) and a yellow gold and white sewn label near neckline. Capelet is lined with black satin and there is a small loop at neckline for hanging.

Significance

Statement of Historical Significance:
There are few names as synonymous with Melbourne's cultural and artistic life as Mirka Mora. Artist and café and restaurant owner, her larger than life personality and her very accessible and public art dominated Melbourne's cultural landscape for over 50 years. Mirka was a post World War II migrant and a leader in the formative years of Melbourne artistic and cultural urban development. Mirka embodied the spirit of bohemian Melbourne for decades and this diverse collection provides an entry point to appreciating the rich life of a complex, multi-faceted woman. The material represents a migrant, cultural and artistic life, revealing her artistic processes, influences and style,and brings the personal side of Mirka to life.

This collection also complements one of the migration collection's strongest sub-collections, the Immigration and Artistic Practice collection. This collection draws on artworks, materials, equipment, migration objects and oral histories to explore how Victorian migrant artist's adapt, develop and transform their artistic practice within a new social, cultural and artistic environment. It provides evidence of the richness provided to the documenting of migrant artist's lives, not just through their artworks, but through the materials showing how their practice evolved over time.

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