Ball Gown, H42023
Photo: Queensland Museum
This gown was designed and made for Mrs Barbara Drury, nee Grahame (1846-1907), the grandmother of the donor, Dr Patricia Marks, and the wife of Edward Robert Drury who was Manager of the Queensland National Bank in Brisbane from 1872 until his death in 1896. The gown may have been worn to the Vice Regal Ball held at Old Government House on July 21, 1892.
The gown consists of two pieces, a short sleeved, close fitting bodice, and a six gored skirt. Ten of the twelve bodice panels are made of pink and ivory silk brocade. The centre front plastron and short puffed sleeves are made of garnet coloured silk velvet. A narrow velvet ruffle hides the front opening. The low cut neckline is trimmed with a flat pleated collar and a double layer of gathered silk chiffon. (Note: The fragments of the original silk chiffon trim were replaced with new chiffon during conservation). The entire bodice extends below the natural waistline. The corset in vogue at the time gave the bust a rounded appearance and the illusion of a tiny waist.
The skirt is made up of two parts, a shot silk taffeta foundation skirt, and an overskirt made of alternating panels of silk brocade and silk velvet. The spaces left by the panel points have been filled with knife pleated copper coloured silk. Three full widths of velvet have used to form the centre back panel which also forms a slight train.