Summary

Black moire beaded bodice with stand-up collar. The bodice was thought by the donor to have been worn around 1880, and would have had a matching skirt. The date, however, seems too early, as the leg-o-mutton style sleeve was popular in the mid-1890s.

The bodice was probably worn by Minnie Anderson. Mary 'Minnie' Lloyd Anderson was one of five children of renowned architect Lloyd Tayler (1830-1900) and Sarah Toller. She married James Caldwell Anderson; they had a son and three daughters. The family lived at 'Mynda', 5 Molesworth Street, Kew, designed by Lloyd Tayler. She died in 1951, aged 91.

Physical Description

Black moire beaded bodice. High collar with lace trimming inside and beaded trim outside. Front fastening with 10 buttons of black glass with metal shanks. Long leg-of-mutton sleeves with bow and beads at wrist. Black lace, machine-made, fill-in at front collar opening and lace overlays on sleeve tops, running down along back centre panel seams. Bodice veed at centre-front and centre-back. Darted bodice, lined with striped, patterned cotton and re-inforced with 12 whalebone stays - although 4 are missing or have been removed for comfort.

More Information