Summary
Black beaded and silk satin dress worn by Mrs Sabina Peipers to the Opening of the first Federal Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia at the Royal Exhibition Building, 9 May 1901. Mrs Peipers attended the opening with her father, the Imperial German Consul William Alexander Brahe. They were seated in the east nave of the building, a couple of rows from the dais upon which the royal party sat.
Brahe is identified in both the Charles Nuttall and Tom Roberts painting of the occasion. Significantly, Nuttall did not depict Mrs Peipers, but instead depicted himself in the seat next to her father, position no. 247, and a Mrs Sheppard on the other side of Brahe. Tom Roberts depicted Brahe at position no. 70; on either side of him were Mr Arthur Ware, Mayor of Adelaide and Mr T. Eitlake (Con.Gen. for Japan).
This dress, donated to the Museum by descendants of Mrs Peipers, was altered around 1910-1914 to reflect the new slimline fashions of the day.
Physical Description
Full length beaded black net and silk satin woman's dress with three-quarter length sleeves, V neckline and centre back opening fastening with metal hooks, and fishtail train. The dress is hand and machine stitched with cotton yarns. It has a base garment of black silk satin which is lined with black wool crepe. A transparent outer garment of black silk net rests over the silk satin. This outer layer is heavily embroidered with green and grey floss silk, gold coloured metal threads in a pattern of leaves and flowers, and metallic looking glass beads. The neckline is trimmed with black silk velvet ribbons.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Public Life & Institutions, Clothing & Textiles, Royal Exhibition Building
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Acquisition Information
Cultural Gifts Donation from Mr D. E. Priestly, 18 Dec 2001
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Acknowledgement
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
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Date Made
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Person Named
Mrs Sabina Peipers, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 09 May 1901
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Person Named
Mr Wilhelm Alexander Brahe, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 09 May 1901
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Place & Date Used
Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 09 May 1901
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Date Used
Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1901-1914
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Approximate Dimensions
174 cm (Length), 83 cm (Width)
Width at hem. Width at cuff is approx 81 cm with arms outstretched.
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Keywords
Australian Federation, 1901, Ceremonial Costumes, Ceremonies, Clothing, German Communities, German Immigration, Royal Exhibition Building