Nightdresses

Among the boxes of my late mother's taonga (treasures) left for me to sort through when I returned home I found these two nightdresses - one linen, one silk - hand embroidered and embellished with handmade lace.  I have never seen them before. 

Niece says they were from my mother's trouseau. Not so. They might have been part of a trouseau but never my mother's.  They are labelled with my maternal grandmother's married name and accompanied by a note saying "made in 1884".  My maternal grandmother was born in 1908, so these came from a generation before her.  I expect my mother became the keeper of of them after her mother died.

What am I do do with these?

I contacted a settlers' history museum in South Canterbury (where these would have originated) and they are delighted to accept the silk.  Linen, they already have many examples of.

Silk

Linen

A barely discernible note in pencil and my grandmother's handwriting in this linen garment says "13 years age". It could belong to either her mother or her mother-in-law. The package of nightgowns was accompanied by my maternal grandfather's silk christening gown so I am inclined to believe these came from his mother.  There is no one alive to confirm or deny. Mum never showed them to me but the labelling suggests that her mother had loaned them for display somewhere sometime.

I dislike being the current guardian of these so was pleased to find an appreciative home for one of them, but what is the future for the poor orphaned linen? Another 30 years in a cupboard and thrown away by the executors of my estate?  As it happens I like it rather more than the silk - all the more for having been made by the hand of a 13 year old.