Pet-en-l'air
Category
Costume
Date
1745 - 1755
Materials
Brass, Linen, Silk
Measurements
508 mm (W)
Collection
Snowshill Wade Costume Collection, Gloucestershire
NT 1349153
Summary
Jacket; Pet-en-l'air - A woman's silk Pet-en-l'air dating from 1745-1755. Fabric - Cream silk, brocaded with multicoloured trailing flower sprays. 20 inches/50.8 cms wide. Possibly Spitalfields c1743-5. Lining - Thick unbleached linen. Cut - Sack-back with two double box pleats. Robings cut in one with the main garment and stitched down as far as the waist. 5 pairs of tabs across front to form stomacher. Set-in sleeves with fullness at head. Elbow length, with fan-shaped cuff. Bodice seamed underarm with deep pleats below hiding pocket slit each side. Silk and lining are worked as one as far as centre back where the silk pleats are left unlined and the lining laces together centre-back. The lining is pieced. Fastenings - 4 brass hooks and eyes join each tab centre-front. 8 pairs worked eyelets for lacing lining inside centre-back. (Cross Ref. Nancy Bradfield 'Costume in Detail' p19; Janet Arnold 'Patterns of Fashion' p30; B126). (female)
Provenance
Given to National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade