Vintage lingerie exhibition shows passion for collecting

A graceful collection of vintage lingerie is on display at the Logan City Historical Museum courtesy of artist, collector and painter Annamaria Mays Vermeer.

From intricate lacework and silk slips to beautifully preserved undergarments, Annamaria’s passion for collecting shines through, says museum curator Helen Cameron.

‘Annamaria’s keen eye for detail and love for all things vintage make this collection truly one-of-a-kind,’ Helen says.

‘These treasures are more than just garments; they are windows into the past, capturing the spirit and style of bygone eras.

‘We invite visitors to step into a world of timeless elegance and delicate craftsmanship, with each piece in this collection tells a story of artistry, femininity, and the enduring beauty of fashion through the ages.’

This isn’t the first time Annamaria, 70, has loaned one of her collections to the Logan City Historical Museum – she recently shared her apron and tea towel collections.

Annamaria is the daughter of Dutch immigrants and the eldest of 9 children. As a young girl she enjoyed the domesticity of life in Ipswich; churning butter on Saturdays and helping prepare a special meal for Sunday.

She delighted in hearing her parents’ experiences from their past, and revelled at the story her dad told her about how he would sneak out at night during WWII to get supplies for his mother.

‘My father snuck out to collect wool from the farmers so he could spin it in exchange for milk and tulip bulbs so his mother could make soup, to avoid starvation for the sake of the family,’ Annamaria says.

‘He also used to steal railway sleepers to keep the fire burning at home for warmth and so his mother could cook.’

Fresh flowers have always had a special place in Annamaria’s heart thanks to her grandmother. As a child Annamaria would visit her in the house next door and discover a fresh bunch of flowers on her kitchen table.

This tradition lives, with Annamaria keeping flowers in her kitchen. Then then takes great pleasure in painting a canvas of them.

ABOVE: Fresh flowers brighten up the kitchen of Annamaria.

‘Growing up we didn’t have much, and every gift I received was treasured and taken care of,’ Annamaria says.

Over the years she’s acquired a quirky and colourful collection of teapots, some 140 of them, and they are displayed in every nook and cranny in her home.

‘My husband and son could tell I was running out of room in our small house for my collections, so they made me a studio in the backyard, so I had a place to store my treasures,’ she says.

Recently Annamaria has honed the craft of making shadow boxes for individuals – one features her mother’s wedding dress, ring and other sentimental items from her life.

After her father passed away, she lovingly put together one that includes his toilet bag, shaving brush, manicure packet and his tin for throat lozenges.

‘I feel that over the years I’ve become a custodian of other people’s memories,’ Annamaria says.

‘Whenever I find a teapot or a special item at a thrift shop, I sit and imagine where it’s come from and then usually do a painting of it. My children’s homes are full of my paintings.’

Annamaria’s collection of vintage lingerie is on display at Logan City Historical Museum until Tuesday, 5 August.

The museum is located at the Kingston Butter Factory Precinct, 270 Jacaranda Avenue, Kingston. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm.

For details visit Logan City Historical Museum | Kingston QLD | Facebook

By Emily Toxward