Cream silk satin teagown, worn by the actress and writer Elizabeth Robins (1862-1952) in an unidentified production, ca.1900

Cream silk satin teagown, worn by the actress and writer Elizabeth Robins (1862-1952) in an unidentified production.
Full length cream silk duchess satin Teagown, extending into a long train at the rear. The dress has a high, empire line bodice, and short full puffed, upper sleeves. The sleeves are formed in two parts, the bottom part of the sleeves is made from a light, cream net, which opens up into a wide cuff at the elbow. The net at the edge of the cuff is woven with a geometic and stylised floral pattern.
Bands of cream net, woven with the same pattern, have also been used to edge the semi-circular neckline.
The interior bodice, now shattered, was originally stiffened with channels of boning, some ten cms in length. The interior bodice fastens with hook and thread bound loop fastenings.
The dress opens at the proper left front, and this opening is secured with a vertical line of six metal clips and eyes. The dress in not lined, but a band of silk chiffon, some ten centimetres in width has been added at the interior of the hem.
A self fabric bow as been added at centre back bodice of the dress, below this bow, wide pleats have been used to add shaping to the top part of the train.

Costume worn by the actress Elizabeth Robins in an unidentified production

Cream silk satin duchess teagown, worn by the actress and writer Elizabeth Robins (1862-1952) in an unidentified production, ca.1900.

S.1382-1984