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Story: Exhibitions and world’s fairs

Wallpaper design from the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, Wellington, 1885

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Wallpaper design from the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, Wellington, 1885

This design won first prize for Isabel Hodgkins (sister of painter Frances Hodgkins) at the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition held in Wellington in 1885. Her design is a fine example of art nouveau style, which was becoming fashionable at this time. The exhibition was held in a large Lambton Quay building from 1 August to 31 October, and attracted 133,000 visitors.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: C-018-019

by Isabel Jane Hodgkins

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Exhibitions and world’s fairs – New Zealand exhibitions, 1865 to 1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/45429/wallpaper-design-from-the-new-zealand-industrial-exhibition-wellington-1885 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 30 May 2014.