Vintage fabric, dyed vintage handkerchiefs, buttons, beads, thread and vintage Bakelite closure. 

Inspiration:

“This evening I saw Queen Pomaré for the first time. She is a woman of 36 years of age, tall and stout, but tolerably well preserved—as a general rule, I found that the women here fade much less quickly than in other warm climates—her face is far from ugly, and there is a most good-natured expression round her mouth, and the lower portion of her face. She was enveloped in a sky-blue satin gown, or rather, sort of blouse, ornamented all round with two rows of rich black blond. She wore large jessamine blossoms in her ears, and a wreath of flowers in her hair, while in her hand she carried a fine pocket handkerchief beautifully embroidered, and ornamented with broad lace. In honour of the evening, she had forced her feet into shoes and stockings, though on other occasions she went barefoot. The entire costume was a present from the King of the French.”

CHAPTER VII. THE VOYAGE FROM VALPARAISO TO CANTON VIA TAHITI.  -  A Woman’s Journey round the World by Ida Laura Phieffer, 1850