Huia & Rata Tote Bag

  • $1800


Huia feature on this gorgeous tote bag, just one of a range of items celebrating Kemp House, Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest building, which turned 200 in 2022!

A handmade Eider-down quilt in the Kemp House collection is the source of this rich fabric design featuring female Huia with Rata flowers in full bloom, set against a dusky rose pink background. The quilt, and a workbag in a similar fabric featuring Tui, were sewn by Dory Kemp (her husband Ernest gifted Kemp House to the people of New Zealand in 1974) from a cotton fabric woven and printed in England c1900. Made specifically for the New Zealand market fabrics such as these were sold as 'Novelty Dress Goods'

A swing tag provides even more fascinating details about the original fabric and its place in Aotearoa New Zealand's history. The Tui design is available as a drawstring bag, and both the Tui and Huia designs are also available as Greeting Cards, and Notebooks.

Kemp House was completed in 1822. It was built for C.M.S missionary Rev. John Butler and family at the Kerikeri Mission Station EST. 1819, under the protection of Ngapuhi rangatira Hongi Hika.



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