Woman's blouse
Category
Costume
Date
1890 - 1895
Materials
Chiffon, satin, cotton, whalebone and jet
Measurements
470 mm (length); 565 mm (length); 900 mm (width)
Order this imageCollection
Birling Gap and Seven Sisters, East Sussex
NT 658621
Summary
A very elaborate stiffened and lined lady's black blouse with a high round neck and long sleeves. The black cotton material is embroidered with a 'circle, line, circle' motif scattered intermittently over it. The high neckline is bound with narrow black satin tape. The front of the bodice has nine vertical pintucks either side of the central opening. A broad black satin collar or frill runs all the way round becoming wider over the shoulders. This is edged with a fringe of strings of black jet beads. The bottom of the waist length blouse is edged with the strings of black jet beads worked into a floral pattern with a hanging fringe. There are thirteen button holes down the front, but no buttons. The long sleeves finish at the cuff with two narrow bands of black satin and a narrow frill of black chiffon. The back is seamed to give shape to the blouse. The blouse is lined with a cream cotton striped material with red cotton stitching. The fronts are stiffened with two lengths of whalebone either side and the back has seven whalebone stiffeners. The inside is quite stained.