Polonaise
Category
Costume
Date
1770
Materials
Chenille, Linen, Satin, Silk, Wool
Measurements
480 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Wade Costume Collection, Gloucestershire
NT 1348712.1
Summary
Dress; Polonaise - Part of a cream silk dress with wide ribbed satin stripe. Brocaded floral sprays in red, pink, green, black, pale blue and yellow, silk and chenille. Bodice lined with unbleached linen. Sleeves part lined with unbleached linen. Bodice closed front, wide neckline with drawstrings. Back seamed in 6 sections, narrowing to low, pointed centre back. Centre fronts and each seam boned. Straight sleeves, shaped by piecing round elbow. Skirt trained, cut separately. Deep, knife-pleating from sides into centre back, smooth at front. 3 pairs linen tape ties between skirt and waist to make polonaise arrangement. Cuffs trimmed with double frill of Dresden work. Fastened with 13 pairs of eyelets. Petticoat - front panel of matching brocade with back of cream glazed wool. Hem faced with cream silk. Pieced throughout. Pleated onto linen tape waistband. 4 pleated semi-circular flaps above hem of front panel. Pocket slit. Alterations; Dress back appears undisturbed. Bodice and sleeves have been enlarged under arm and skirt. Front rearragned. Petticoat fabric has been used before - preobably as original petticoat with pieces removed to alter dress. cf Nancy Bradfield 'Costume in Detail' p. 61-62 (female)