Story: Crafts and applied arts

The 1930s depression ended the arts and crafts movement in New Zealand because there was no longer a market for relatively expensive, hand-made crafts. The thrifty, make-do-and-mend craft skills characteristic of the early settler period had endured and now came in very handy. The fabric of this embroidered silk velvet evening bag was recycled from a mantelpiece runner or pelmet – the scalloped edges of the original piece have been incorporated into the bag.