Rare Victorian gowns up for auction in Dunedin

By Ellie Constantine

Wendy Williamson, of Forno's Auctioneers, displays an 1880s wedding gown and accessories which are for auction tomorrow.

Strong corsets and much manipulation would be required to fit any modern woman into the collection of Victorian gowns at Forno's Auctioneers.

A private collection of petite Victorian gowns, complete with mannequins, furs and dresses from the 1920s, will be offered for sale at the auction house tomorrow.

The collection was put together over several years by a private Dunedin collector.

The woman had taken care of the garments incredibly well, auctionco-ordinator Wendy Williamson said.

They had come to the auction house on their mannequins, to keep their shape.

The oldest dress in the collection was an 1880s wedding gown, complete with embroidered silk stockings, gloves, a fan and the fabric off-cuts from when it was sewn.

It was the first time such a collection had come into the auction house and she could not estimate what prices they might fetch.

"It is rare to have a group like this."

Auction house owner Barry Forno said the Otago Settlers Museum had been informed of the auction and many women had been in to look at the dresses.