Shirt - Thursday Island

Country
Australia
 State/Province
Queensland
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Object detail

Description
Child's polo shirt, souvenir of Thursday Island. Red body, green and blue collar with dhari design on collar in white. Sea turtle embroidered over left pocket location in shades of green and tan, features embroidered image of a sea turtle with the words "Thursday Island" and "AUSTRALIA".
Classification
COSTUME Daywear unisex
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Maker
Production place
Unknown
Measurements
H450 x W580 mm (laid flat)
Media/Materials description
Cotton
Plastic
Signature/Marks
THURSDAY ISLAND AUSTRALIA
Figure of Sea Turtle
Figure of dhari, in style of Torres Strait Islander Flag
History and use
This shirt is representative of contemporary clothing and souvenirs in the Torres Strait Islands, which contrasts 'traditional' or ceremonial dress. It uses cultural motifs, such as the dhari, showing the symbolic connection of the clothing to today's Torres Strait community of Thursday Island. Its contemporary design and manufacture also demonstrates the continuation and evolution of wearable art in the region, and the production, design, and consumption of clothing both within the Torres Strait and state-wide in Queensland.

In addition, the shirt speaks to the history of the Museum of Tropical Queensland (MTQ) and its impact in showcasing the material culture of Torres Strait Islander communities. It was featured in the inaugural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island exhibition at MTQ in 1999 (-2005).
Associated person
Bruce Cowell
Registration number
QE26955

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