Teacosy Number 34, Bundoora Homestead

Crafted from fabric, quilting, beads, silk and plastic, Teacosy Number 34, Bundoora Homestead is a tribute to former times when teacosies were a practical, yet highly decorative domestic accessory. The rich, luxurious colour shadings of burgundy and brown together with the use of hand embroidery techniques convey a sense of history and formality. A small plastic horse adorns the teacosy acknowledging Bundoora Homestead’s original use as a racehorse breeding stud led by the champion stallion Wallace, sired by Carbine, winner of the 1896 Melbourne Cup. The teacosy is embroidered on both sides with a swallow that appears prominently throughout Bundoora Homestead’s interior stained and painted glass scheme and the fabrics reflect some of the homestead’s original paint colours.

Tara Badcock is a Tasmanian based conceptual artist and designer working primarily with textiles. Her work is held in a number of private and public collections including the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery and UNESCO’s Collection Permanent in Paris, France.

Teacosy Number 34, Bundoora Homestead © Tara Badcock