ProvenanceThe costume was presumably brought out from Wales by family members of Thomas Edward Davies, who was born in Richmond, Victoria in 1858. He married Ellen Oldfield in Semaphore, South Australia in 1883. The dress was handed down through the generations in the Davies family until it was donated to the Migration Museum in 2005.SignificanceThere are limited objects relating to Welsh immigration in South Australia, and Australia more broadly, and this is a good example of traditional costume passed down through a family.Descriptiona) SHAWL - Central field with an overall floral leaf. Predominately overall paisley style design. Predominately red background cream and black detail, border 100mm. Predominately cream with black detail on red background. A 25mm plain red outer border.
b) SCARF- Red scarf with central paisley design surrounded by 95mm wide border design. 2 selvedge edges and 2 hemmed edges.
c) APRON - Hand woven black and white check, tightly pleated, all hand sewn apron. Made up from 2 widths of fabric, central front seam, 80mm hem. Khaki coloured waist band and ties.
d) BONNET - Cream lawn bonnet with shaped back section, gathered main part and gathered frill with drawn thread edging. Two straight ties.
e) SKIRT - Black and red striped woolen skirt, 4 loom lidths, shaped front striped sides, pleats either side of central pleated back opening. Two button fastening on cotton waistband/yoke, centre back. 'False' hem of cotton gateen on inside, black velvet strip outside.
f) PETTICOAT - Full length petticoat, 5 gored with 3 attached slightly gathered pin tucked frills. Inside of lower hem faced with velvet
g) COAT - Open fronted, no fastenings, red and black checked, coarse woolen coat, shaped by godet panel inserts each side seam (?), 3/4 length, straight sleeves with underarm gussets and no cuffs.
h) HAT - Tall, black 'silky-furry', straight sided woman's Welsh National Costume hat.
i-j) SHOES - Hand made dark brown leather upper and wooden soled shoes. Upper attached to sole by metal strip fastened nails/studs. Torn piece of ribbon in right eyelets. Metal toe caps.Creator (person)Creator (organisation)not knownAcknowledgementDate of CreationDate of UsageMateriala) Silky fine light weight fabric
|b) not known
|c) Wool
|d) Cotton
|e) Wool
|cotton
|velvet
|f) unknown
|g) Wool
|h) Cardboard
|'silky' fabric
|grosgrain ribbon
|i) Leather
|wood
|metal Accession NumberHT 2005.0075 a-j
