POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Doll wearing historical Qantas uniform

Object No. 2010/70/1-21

This donation consists of forty-two Ken and Barbie dolls dressed in Qantas uniforms hand-made by John Willmott-Potts, who worked as a cook and flight steward with Qantas for 24 years. Each doll represents a different Qantas uniform design from 1948-2009 and where possible John matched the Barbie to the date the uniform was released. The uniforms were crafted from original patterns which a friend of Willmott-Potts miniaturised to enable John to fit them for the Barbie and Ken dolls. This collection brings together, and makes visible, the entire set of Qantas uniforms in a non-pictorial format. The patterns, and some of the cloth used, have been sourced from originals. They were originally used as part of a travelling display entitled 'Stiches in Time'; a talk on the history of Qantas which John delivered to schools, museums and libraries in rural New South Wales. John Willmott-Potts's story, and collection, is a unique example of one man's passion for this iconic Australian Company and the culture which it bred among its staff.

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Summary

Object Statement

Doll, male figure wearing Qantas 'Fun Jet' uniform from about 1978, plastic / textile, doll made by Mattel Inc, probably United States of America, 1968, costume made by John Willmott-Potts, Young, New South Wales, Australia, 1988-2010

Physical Description

The doll, with fluffy brown hair, is wearing a pair of dark blue trousers and and a red and white, floral, Hawaiian shirt with short sleeves and a pair of black sneakers.

DIMENSIONS

Width

90 mm

Depth

45 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

This is a miniature version of the Qantas 'Fun Jet' uniform worn by Qantas flight attendants around 1978 for flights to pacific islands of Noumea, Fiji and Bali. It is part of a collection of miniature Qantas uniforms made by former Qantas steward John Willmott Potts between 1988 - 2010.

SOURCE

Acquisition Date

18 October 2010

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