This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0028_01C01A62.35065AE0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit For those interested in the Six Family: the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is exhibiting the "wardrobe"of the family. www.rijksmuseum.nl (available in English) the press release: The Six Gift Regents in Costume In the winter of 2000/2001 the Rijksmuseum will present over 100 outstanding pieces from the exceptionally rich collection of costumes and accessories assembled by the well-known Six family of Amsterdam regents. Including photos of the family, the presentation gives a colourful and wide-ranging picture of the life of the wealthy on the canals of Amsterdam and at their country houses along the River Vecht and in the Gooi region between the 18th and 20th centuries. Regents in costume. The Six gift will be on view from 9 September 2000 to 11 March 2001 in the South Wing of the Rijksmuseum. In 1978 members of the aristocratic Six family donated over 500 costumes and accessories to the Rijksmuseum. It was the only such ensemble in the Netherlands to have been preserved complete. The reason for this was that the items marked important events in the life of this prominent family. The exhibition presents a superb selection from this gift, such as wedding dresses, including the broadest dress in the Netherlands, and parts of the costume of a Garde d'Honneur of Napoleon. Restrained court costumes, colourful Kashmir shawls, richly embroidered bags and shoes, Japonse rokken and jewellery are also shown. As well as family heirlooms, there are very old costumes acquired at auction. These were used among other things for the tableaux vivants in one of the family houses or for the costume parties at the private 'Casino' club in Amsterdam. The old photos in the exhibition show how the costumes were worn on these occasions and by whom. In the accompanying Rijksmuseum dossier factual information alternates with excerpts from diaries, letters, inventories and cash books, again creating a lively picture of the life of the Six family. The dossier is richly illustrated with remarkable photos by the leading fashion photographer Tom van Heel and stylist Maarten Spruyt. It also includes previously unpublished material which has been kindly made available by the Six family. The exhibition is part of the programme of celebrations marking the Rijksmuseum's bicen