Erin SmithMultimedia journalist ·Whanganui Chronicle·1 Jul, 2026 05:00 PM3 mins to readThe silk evening gown underwent conservation treatment by Wellington textile conservator Rachael Collinge (right), with Whanganui Regional Museum photographer and collections assistant Kathy Greensides assisting with work on its delicate condition. Photo / Karen HughesA rare Victorian evening gown with a dangerous secret will be shown for the final time on a mannequin at the Whanganui Regional Museum.The handmade silk garment was crafted in the mid-19th century using what museum staff believe was arsenic-based dye to create its elaborate green foliage pattern.
Its
