Textile Treasures at Government House

Government House in Wellington is the official residence of the Governor General and his family.  Twelve members of our caravan club did a tour through this wonderful old building, which was recently refurbished and earthquake strengthened at a cost of 40 million dollars.  The House is full of all sorts of treasures, lovely old furniture, paintings, silver, ceramics, and although I didn’t spot and quilts, there were many beautiful textiles on display.  Such as this beautiful silk screen in the State Dining Room which dates from the 1860s.

Silk Screen

The Norrie State Dining Room in Government House features a long, extending table from about 1880 and can seat up to 26 guests, and is where State Dinners for visiting Heads of State are often held.  I was particularly interested in the 38 tapestry chairs which were created by branches of the Country Women’s Institute in the 1950s, for the cancelled visit of King George VI.   The design on the back of each chair is the coat of arms of a New Zealand city or borough.  The carver chairs (with arms) are from  the four major cities: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.  Our guide kindly found me the chair stitched in Levin, our new home town, so I could get a photo taken.

Chair with  the coat of arms from Levin

The Blundell Room is characterised by New Zealand’s native Tui, known for its social, chatty nature. The dark oily blue of the Tui’s plumage and the bright yellow Kowhai flower whose nectar the Tui feasts upon, have guided the selection of drapery and upholstery fabrics.  Plump embroidered cushions are arranged on the settees in this room.

Embroidered cushions

The woven kowhai screen had quite a story.  It was being made at the Arts Centre in Christchurch when the massive earthquake struck, and laid buried in the rubble for some time.  It was finally dug out, and was finished in time for when the refurbishments were complete and Government House finally reopened

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Woven screen featuring kowhai blossoms

Government House has an unique tapa cloth dress in the foyer.  The World of Wearable Art collection loans a rotating range of items with a Pacifica theme, we were told.

Tapa cloth dress on loan

Owen took us through the house starting at the Ballroom,  which is used for receptions, concerts, balls, investitures and other award ceremonies.  Most significantly, it is the room where the Prime Minister and his or her Ministers as sworn in as members of the Executive Council by the Governor-General after a General Election.  At one end is the dais on which stand the two thrones. Above these hangs a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, painted by Denis Fildes in 1960.   The two beautiful  Czech crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling were completely disassembled and rewired with energy-efficient bulbs as part of the Conservation Project during the refurbishment.

The Ball Room

Government House and the Reflecting Pool

We had a great tour, and as we walked through this room and that, our guide Owen told us the function of each room.  He pointed out various interesting objects and was a font of knowledge.   Such as the fact that Government House was built on the site of the Mt View Lunatic Asylum, which was dismantled and the patients moved to Porirua Hospital – we didn’t know that before!

A shame indeed

The rain came down overnight while we were away on holiday and the family in the tent behind us at the campsite were drying out their belongings.  A large tapa cloth was flung over a wall and walked over to have a look at it.  The tapa cloth was soaking wet, the layers were coming apart, and it was was full of holes.

“We just use it as a ground sheet”, the young couple told me.  I told them that tapa cloth was completely made by hand, and was a highly revered item in the Islands, and usually given as gifts for weddings and funerals. “It doesn’t matter”, they told me, “we’ll just chuck this one out when it gets too holey, then pick up another one from the local Auckland pawn-shop.”  It seems a shame indeed, that something so wonderful can be treated so little respect.

  Rips and holes everywhere

Samoan Tapa Wedding Dress

It was quite unexpected – coming across a wedding gown amongst the tapa collection at Te Papa museum. This was made from creamy-white tapa cloth and came complete with a train and headdress. Made in New Zealand in 1997 by Paula Chan-Cheuk for Jackie Leota-Eti it combines both Samoan and New Zealand influences. The pale tapa cloth is highlighted with gold coloured braided cording and shells.

Samoan wedding dress

Also on display was a tapa chasuble, an outer vestment worn by Catholic priests when they are celebrating mass. The vestment was made in Tonga for Father John Faisandier and given to him on his ordination as priest in Heretaunga, Hutt Valley, New Zealand in 1978. It is hand painted with a combination of Christian and Tongan imagery. The Tongan pattern is known as Tokelau feletoa and a motif possibly representing olive branches decorates the border of the chasuble. The other images on the vestment are taken from Catholic iconography. The Virgin Mary is depicted on the front, and an image of Christ appears on the back.

Tapa Chasuble

Tapa cloth is very special to the people of the South Pacific and is often given as gifts. These two wonderful garments are very special indeed and show a modern twist to the traditional tapa cloth decoration.