Oriental Coat
One day I found this oriental jacket in a forgotten suitcase at my parent’s home. It was in terrible condition, with stains and in need of repair. My mother told me that it had belonged to her mother who had visited Ceylon on her own in the early 1900s, and on the way home the ship stopped in Java where she was given this jacket as a gift. It all sounded very exotic and I thought how fascinating – my 5’1″ granny who I never really knew – was quite an adventurer. Apparently she often wore this favourite jacket to dinner on the outback property at Charleville where she lived with my 6’9″ grandfather.!!! I wish I had known her, but sadly she passed away when I was 2-3 years old. My mother said I could have the jacket, and so I wore it a few times, then thought it really needed fixing. After a few phone calls to Sydney antique dealers I found a place in Canberra that restores textiles. It took quite a few months to restore by hand but it was worth the wait. When it was returned it came in a huge wooden box, with the jacket lying flat in metres of silk fabric, and stuffed with black padding in the shape of the coat. It now hangs on a wall at home, and I am planning to wear it again one day.
Endangered Textiles
Duffy
A.C.T.
02-6287 1291
Mary Dickinson 