Pearly queen costume jacket. Jacket is long sleeved, black, with a two button closure, wide collar and lapels and two waste pockets. Jacket is heavily decorated with white buttons made primarily of plastic, sewn on with black thread. The buttons on the front and arms of the garment are similar in size and patterned in horizontal lines of three rows interspersed with connected diamond shapes. The hem and pockets are covered in slightly larger buttons. A variety of six plastic pins are attached to the jacket front. The collar and lapel are densely covered in buttons of various sizes, some made of abalone shell. A silver medal hangs from the right lapel, stating “Member of Pearly Kings and Queens Assoc.”. On the shoulders are two small “s” shapes in brown and grey abalone buttons. The back of the jacket is less densely covered and states, in buttons, “Pearly Queen of Dulwich” between three crowns. The interior of the jacket is lined in black polyester.

Hide pouch constructed of two rectangular pieces of thin hide, sewn together on three sides with an open top. A short fringe lines the outer edges on the sides and bottom. The front of the pouch is decorated with a line of red fabric along all edges and four blue fabric lines running diagonally from each corner to the centre where they meet a circle of white and yellow glass beads. A short handle of twisted red and tan fabric is attached to the pouch at the top corners. Two small white abalone buttons are sewn to the top back of the purse and correspond to holes in the front for closing. The back and interior are undecorated.

Button blanket. Rectangular, dark blue blanket with two vertical black stripes as background for images of 11 small frogs surrounding two large front facing birds (owls?), wings slightly spread, all cut out of red fabric and sewn to the blanket. The eyes of each animal are white shell buttons; their faces have been drawn in what appears to be graphite. The same red fabric lines the top and edges of the blanket, with two rows of white buttons decorating the upper corners. The top centre edge is covered with tan and red fabric, with two cloth ties attached to each side. The back of the blanket is undecorated.

Necklace made from a single large, crescent shaped piece of shell with ochre pigment on one side. Attached to a thick, woven, ochre-coloured woven band; one cowrie shell attached to band at each end. Three tufts of possum hair (on the skin) hang from the strap on short woven strings, also coloured with ochre.

Woven bilum with curved bottom and handle. Fibre surface is decorated with a geometric pattern in pink and purple. Bag is also decorated with seed and feather ornaments, attached with beaded ties, all over one side and the egdes. The woven handle has small cowrie shells wound around it.

String puppet (marioneta) representing the character Adamastor, mythological character, embodiment of storms. The core of the puppet is a mass of dark brown cragged wood, cork, large strands of frayed rope and torn white plastic, as well as several small white shells. The monster's eyes are barnacle shells. Grey paint has been added to all elements in a few areas. Falling from this amalgamation is a long torn piece of black cotton fabric, also rubbed with grey paint in areas. A leather and rusted metal belt buckle is tied into one corner. Part b is a wooden control stick, carved at centre, with the handle painted to look bone-like. The control stick fits into the central piece of cork in the head.

Wooden figure representing St. Anthony, holding a book with his right hand and a child with a leather halo with his left hand. The figure wears a headdress with flower above his head, a small cross with glitter design on front, and is standing on a large double base. Two oval shells and a leather fringe decorate the base front. “SANTO ANTONIO” is painted on front. (Pieces of paper with red writing taped to back and base.)

OBJECTS OF BRIGHT PRIDE (AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS, NEW YORK, NY, USA, 1978)

Axel Rasmussen Collection. Collected: Axel Rasmussen