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Rugby Crowd, Petone 1927
This evocative 1927 print captures a sea of spectators in period suits, coats, and hats filling the stadium stands behind a nostalgic Laundry Shampoo advertising sign.
Read morePetone versus Varsity rugby game - the crowd, 15 August 1927, Wellington, by Crystal Photographic House. Acquisition details/history unknown. Found in collection, 1990s. Te Papa (A.011565)
Capture a piece of New Zealand’s rich sporting soul with this stunning 1927 vintage print of a Petone versus Varsity rugby game. This evocative black and white photography piece offers a front-row seat to the passion of 1920s rugby culture in Wellington, frozen in time during an era when the game was the heartbeat of the community. The composition features a striking, direct-on perspective of a dense Petone rugby crowd, where fans pack the lower foreground in front of a nostalgic Laundry Shampoo advertising sign. The sea of spectators flows upward into the stadium stands, filling the image to the very top and illustrating the incredible scale of rugby history in New Zealand long before the modern era of the All Blacks or Wellington Lions. Beyond the thrill of the match, this print serves as a fascinating study of 20s fashion and social history. The crowd is a rhythmic pattern of period-accurate style, dominated by rows of classic hats, fedoras, and flat caps. Men and women alike are captured in their sharpest suits and jackets, having dressed in their Sunday best to fill the stadium stands. The weathered signages and vintage branding add a charming, retro touch to the frame, making it a standout example of historical prints that document the evolution of sporting history. As a piece of interior art, this print brings a sense of heritage and "Old World" New Zealand to any home or office. It is an authentic reproduction of vintage prints nz collectors admire, blending the grit of sport with the elegance of black and white aesthetics. Whether you are looking for gifts for dad, grandad, or boyfriend, or a unique piece of new zealand photography for your own collection, this image of sports fans from a bygone era is a timeless tribute to the national game.

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SIZE GUIDES
M
L
XL
Framed Print
62.4cm x 45cm
87.1cm x 62.4cm
124cm x 89cm
Frame (width x depth)
2cm x 3cm
2cm x 3cm
3cm x 2cm
Print only
59.4cm x 42cm (A2)
84.1cm x 59.4cm (A1)
118.9cm x 84.1cm (A0)
M
L
XL
XL DUO
Framed Print
45cm x 62.4cm
62.4cm x 87.1cm
89cm x 124cm
2x XL
Frame (width x depth)
2cm x 3cm
2cm x 3cm
3cm x 2cm
3cm x 2cm
Print only
42cm x 59.4cm(A2)
59.4cm x 84.1cm (A1)
84.1cm x 118.9cm (A0)
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