Dress fabric
Category
Costume
Date
1815
Materials
Linen, Silk
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Wade Costume Collection, Gloucestershire
NT 1349157.2
Summary
Dress fabric - Part of a woman's silk taffeta maternity dress with fabric piece dating from c1815. Fabric - Purple brown silk taffeta with narrow woven satin stripe dotted with small red and blue brocaded flowers. Narrow selvedge with 2 red stripes. Lining - Unlined. Cut - Apron front (low stomacher front - see Cunnington 'English Costume in the 19th Century' p355). Very high waistline. Bodice front meets centre-front to give 'sweetheart' neckline. 2 bust darts. Bodice backplain, with curving neckline. Short sleeves pleated at head and slightly gathered at bound opening. Row of tongue-shaped tabs all round waist seam, overlapping skirt. Skirt has typical cut of the period but is reversed, with the back falling perfectly straight, the flared gore to the front and the front full and gathered. Row of tongue-shaped tabs round hem. Trimmings - Neyron rose silk ribbon binding the edges of the tabs. Sleeve edge bound with wide stitches of cream silk cord. Fastenings - Narrow white linen tape stitched behind front waistband (not as far as the side edges) to tie behind. Bodice front would be pinned. Alterations - Skirt has been turned round and edges of back skirt turned back (for maternity wear). Comment Very little wear (if any). (Cross Ref. H). (female)
Provenance
Given to National Trust with Snowshill Manor by Charles Paget Wade