Half mourning dress
Category
Costume
Date
1870 - 1875
Materials
Cotton, Jet, Silk, Steel
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Wade Costume Collection, Gloucestershire
NT 1349145
Summary
Half mourning dress - A woman's muslin and taffeta half-mourning dress dating from 1870-1875. Fabric - Black muslin with white woven spot pattern. Lining - Bodice and sleeves lined with black taffeta. Cut - Natural waistline. Low scoop neck, opening centre-front bodice, stepped at waist, continues left side of skirt. 2 pairs boned darts at bust. Bodice back has seams curving from armhole towards centre of waist. Boned underarm seams. Dropped shoulder. 3/4 length loose fitting curved sleeves. Skirt falls smoothly in front, pleated at sides, gathered centre-back. 2 'v' shaped basques centre-back, pleated into the waist. Pocket right-hand seam. Fob pocket. Self frill round hem. Hem bound black silk braid. Machine stitched. Trimmings - Frill of black LePuy lace round neck edge. Pleated bands of black pinked silk and long black and white silk fringing applied to edges of bodice and basques also in horizontal lines across front of skirt. large double bow of black silk with rounded tails centre-back waist. Fastenings - Bodice front fastens with 4 jet buttons attached with metal rings. Steel hooks and eyes on waistband (1 hook missing) (Cross Ref. Nancy Bradfield 'Costume in Detail' p231, B116). (female) The following note was attached: "A costume which belonged to Mrs Macready. Given to Mrs Edgar Dugdale by Bertram Forsyth, an actor who wrote 'The Shepherdess Without a Heart'. He had hoped to produce plays with Basil Hallam, but the latter was killed in the war owing to the failure of his parachute. Forsyth went to teach dramatic art at the Hart House, Toronto University. He committed suicide in New York. William Charles Macready b. 1793, d.1873 in Cheltenham. Married twice (1) in 1823 to Catherine F. Atkins d. 1852. (2) in 1860 to Cecile L.F. Spenier b. 1827 - d.1908. This dress was probably worn by his widow in 1873."
Provenance
Given to National Trust with Snowshill Manor in1951 by Charles Paget Wade