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2000/66/141 Swimsuit, part of collection, Annette Kellerman brand, womens, wool / metal, designed by Annette Kellerman, made by Asbury Mills, New York, United States of America, 1920-1960. Click to enlarge.

Annette Kellerman brand swimsuit

This swimsuit is part of a substantial collection of costumes and props used by Annette Kellerman (1886-1975). She became an international celebrity as an endurance swimmer, an entertainer of the vaudeville stage and a star of American silent films. She played a key role in popularising the one-piece swimsuit for women.

Born in Sydney, Kellerman took up swimming as a child to strengthen her semi-crippled legs. She became a champion, setting a New South Wales record for the 100 yards and a …

Summary

Object No.

2000/66/141

Object Statement

Swimsuit, part of collection, Annette Kellerman brand, womens, wool / metal, designed by Annette Kellerman, made by Asbury Mills, New York, United States of America, 1920-1960

Physical Description

Black one piece womens swimsuit. Round neck, sleeveless singlet style with long line torso and inner short pants attached. Two rows of stitching appear across the stomach area.

Marks

White fabric tag with the inscription, "Annette Kellerman/ Sun Kist/ Swimming Suit/ REG. US. PAT. OFF. ASBURY MILLS.

Dimensions

Height

730 mm

Width

320 mm

Source

Credit Line

Gift of the Dennis Wolanski Library, Sydney Opera House, 2000

Acquisition Date

23 May 2000

Cite this Object

Harvard

Annette Kellerman brand swimsuit 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 27 March 2023, <https://ma.as/9205>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/9205 |title=Annette Kellerman brand swimsuit |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=27 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}