Collection of dolls dresses and slippers used by Beverly Silby
Object No. 2005/241/11
This collection of doll's clothes demonstrates how dolls, and the tradition of making clothes for dolls, were both passed from one generation to the next. Beverly Silby's mother gave her her favourite childhood doll (Hilary) and made clothes for the doll as well as for the baby doll she gave her daugther for Christmas in 1947. It is also significant that Beverly Silby has taken such care to preserve this collection. As she writes, 'I am just an ordinary person with no claim to fame and certainly not to fortune of any monetary kind, but hope that someway this collection will give some idea of the clothes that people such as myself have worn through their life. It is a form of social history, and I felt that it was worthy of recording.'
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Summary
Object Statement
Dolls dresses (2), coat and slippers (pair), cotton / wool / felt / suede / textile, made by Lil Roberts / Zelma Steeper / Calway Superfine Shoes, used by Beverly Silby, Frankston, Victoria, Australia, 1941-1950
Physical Description
Doll's dresses (2), coat and slippers, cotton / wool / felt / suede, used by Beverly Silby, made by Lil Roberts and Zelma Steeper, Frankston, Victoria, Australia, 1941-1950 Doll's dress, pale blue, floral voile dress, trimmed with machine lace at neck, bodice, sleeves and hem, with pink ribbon threaded through bodice and sleeves. Back opening, three press studs. Slippers, to match dress. Baby shoes, blue felt, with animal face in fawn felt with button eyes on front; suede soles. Viyella coat, cream, somewhat yellowed, smocked, for a china faced baby doll given to Beverly when she was six. Front opening with two buttons, Peter Pan collar, long sleeves. Collar and front opening embroidered in cream feather stitch; collar and hem have pink and blue grub roses embroidered on. Smocking at front and back at yoke. Doll's dress, knitted, apple green wool, with cream moss stitch stripes around hem and sleeve, and at yoke. Short sleeves, opens with two buttons at each shoulder. Some moth holes at back.
PRODUCTION
Notes
Green knitted dress made by Beverly's mother's childhood friend, Lil Roberts. 'Aunty' Lil had not married and, as Beverly recalls, 'she used to do her knitting'. The other dresses were made by Beverly's mother Zelma Steeper for her doll Hilary and for the baby doll she gave Beverly when she was six.
HISTORY
Notes
Green knitted dress made by Beverly's mother's childhood friend, Lil Roberts. Aunty Lil (as she was known) was not married at the time, and so Neil and Beverly were very special to her. She loved to knit and so often arrived with lovely things. The smocked viyella coat was made by Beverly's mother, and did have a matching dress, both with feather stitching and bullion roses on the collar and cuffs. They were all made in the style of the day, to go on a special china baby doll that Beverly got for Christmas when she was about six years old. The blue floral voile was made for Hillary, Beverly's mother's doll which was given to Beverly at a younger age. The slippers also went on this doll.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Beverly Silby, 2005
Acquisition Date
24 November 2005
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