Art Correspondent Ponsonby Willis unearths a rare catalogue in Queensland .
A dress once worn by Marie Antoinette, last Queen of France , executed during the French Revolution , was brought to Australia in 1991 . It was part of the Helen Larson Private Collection, billed as L'Epoque d'Elegance , displayed in a David Jones store , part of the Melbourne International Festival of Arts.
Described as her only court dress known to exist , the train was in aubergine gros-de-tours, with gold dots and scattered tiny flower sprigs , a wide border of cream silk embroidered with pink and cream carnations. In addition, there were applied bands of lattice lace .
Other items in the fabulous collection included an elaborate black satin gown and train with gold embroidery worn by Marie Da Gloria at her coronation as Queen of Portugal in 1834; an off white satin gown with black velvet ribbon trim, worn at the inaugural ball for the American president Ulysses S. Grant, c1869; a man's Louis the l6th court suit of uncut velvet , embroidered with coloured silk flowers , the waistcoat of ribbed ivory silk trimmed with gold sequins and embroidered with gold silk and coloured thread; a gown made from English Spitalfields silk worn at a reception party by Martha Washington at Mount Vernon in 1771; a cotton gown made for the wife of Lord Harris, Governor of Bombay, c1852-3; a purple satin evening gown with cut velvet cone pattern , designed by Charles Worth , of Paris, worn by American heiress Mrs Bradley Martin of New York, her daughter, Cornelia, married the fourth Earl of Craven; a black lace and net evening gown over light blue satin , trimmed with beads and bugles, worn by Consuelo Vanderbilt , who became the Duchess of Marlborough .
Other items in the fabulous collection included an elaborate black satin gown and train with gold embroidery worn by Marie Da Gloria at her coronation as Queen of Portugal in 1834; an off white satin gown with black velvet ribbon trim, worn at the inaugural ball for the American president Ulysses S. Grant, c1869; a man's Louis the l6th court suit of uncut velvet , embroidered with coloured silk flowers , the waistcoat of ribbed ivory silk trimmed with gold sequins and embroidered with gold silk and coloured thread; a gown made from English Spitalfields silk worn at a reception party by Martha Washington at Mount Vernon in 1771; a cotton gown made for the wife of Lord Harris, Governor of Bombay, c1852-3; a purple satin evening gown with cut velvet cone pattern , designed by Charles Worth , of Paris, worn by American heiress Mrs Bradley Martin of New York, her daughter, Cornelia, married the fourth Earl of Craven; a black lace and net evening gown over light blue satin , trimmed with beads and bugles, worn by Consuelo Vanderbilt , who became the Duchess of Marlborough .
The earliest item on display was a burgundy velvet boy's jacket , c1595-1610. An Italian velvet cloak with a metallic pattern and moleskin collar , dating from 1920, had been made by Fortuny.
In a showcase was a French gown , elaborately trimmed with pearls and black beads , with black and cream striped sleeves and train, worn by Mrs Julia Butterfield when presented to the Empress of Russia .
