Prof Harris will present two free "Jane Austen @ 250" floor talks this Saturday and Sunday, from 11am, in the Beautiful Science Gallery at Tūhura Otago Museum, illustrated with rarely-seen items of interest from the museum’s collections.
The event is partnered with the Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival, running across the city from this Friday to Sunday.
Prof Harris said she had enjoyed the chance to get a glimpse behind the scenes at the museum through working with events manager Rachel MacJeff, dress collection honorary curator Dr Jane Malthus and humanities curator Moira White to source artefacts to be displayed alongside her talks.
"I challenged Moira and Jane to find objects in the collection that would illustrate some specific topics, such as war and peace, wealth and poverty, and of course fashion," Prof Harris said.
"We want to give a sense of the backdrop to Austen’s living and writing conditions in the early 1800s — the time of the Regency and the Napoleonic wars."
Among the items to be displayed are a sugar bowl decorated with an anti-slavery message, commemorative medals, Indian objects, a coin depicting King George III, a tea caddy, a wine cooling cellar, coins, a medal from the Battle of Waterloo, a pack of playing cards from the late 18th century, and more.
Dr Malthus had been able to access a pretty summer dress dating back to the 1820s, which featured the "empire line" design popular in Austen’s lifetime, a woollen paisley shawl from India, a light-weight embroidered shawl, an ornate man’s waistcoat, a sampler and Sir Walter Scott’s walking stick.
Prof Harris said it was fascinating to be able to view the objects and know they were from the time when Jane Austen was living and writing.
Although she lived in relative obscurity, Jane Austen (December 16, 1775-July 18, 1817) has an enduring legacy and is one of the world’s most beloved authors today.
Prof Harris said a recent Jane Austen Society conference in the United States, attracted 950 people from around the world, all in Regency-style clothes.
"The 250th anniversary of her birthday, on December 16, will be celebrated in many places."
In Dunedin, plans were under way for a celebration to be held at Olveston in December, she said.
• Tūhura Otago Museum will also host A "Jane Austen @ 250" Regency High Tea from 2.30pm this Sunday. People are encouraged to dress up in Regency-style gear and enjoy a traditional tea service, parlour games and live entertainment.
Tickets via the museum website tuhura.nz
