THE VALERIE CARSON ESTATE TEXTILE COLLECTION
Monday, 8 - Monday, 15 August 2022

Textiles were ingrained in Valerie Carson’s being, growing up in a family where making was a part of life. After practicing as a dental nurse she discovered an aptitude for detailed handiwork. She joined the Wellington Embroiderers’ Guild as a practitioner and that led her to volunteer work at the then Dominion Museum, later Te Papa Tongarewa. Becoming the museum’s first specialist textile conservator in 1980, she worked there for more than a quarter of a century, after a year spent in the UK gaining specialised skills. She was involved with care of textile in the taonga Māori collection, the Pacific collection and the social history collections. Outside work Valerie lead textile tours overseas, which enabled her to fulfil a passion for collecting for interest and study. This culminated in what we believe to be one of the more interesting private collections in New Zealand of such pieces . Cordy’s are privileged with presenting her collection for sale by auction.