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Ball gown

Ball gown

  • Place of origin:

    Great Britain, UK (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1820 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown (production)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Silk satin and silk net embroidered with metal and trimmed with silk blonde bobbin lace, hand sewn

  • Museum number:

    T.196-1975

  • Gallery location:

    Fashion, room 40, case CA2, shelf FIG2

  • Download image

Women saved their most elaborate dresses for special occasions such as balls. Lavish gowns embellished with gold thread or sparkling beads glittered in the artificial light of the dancing room. Thin, gauzy materials created a soft dreamy look. These light materials also prevented the wearer from getting too hot while dancing in stuffy, overcrowded spaces.

Physical description

Short-sleeved ball gown comprising of an underdress of silk satin and an overdress of machine-made silk net embroidered with metal and trimmed with blonde bobbin lace.

The dress has a low oval neckline, puffed short sleeves, a wedge shaped front bodice panel and a medium high waist. The skirt has a central front panel, wedge shaped panels and the centre back panels are tightly gathered at the waist. The lining is padded at the hem with a frill of blond stitched to cover. It fastens with a tape at the neck and hooks at the centre back.

Place of Origin

Great Britain, UK (made)

Date

ca. 1820 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Silk satin and silk net embroidered with metal and trimmed with silk blonde bobbin lace, hand sewn

Descriptive line

Ball gown of embroidered net, Great Britain, ca. 1820.

Categories

Embroidery; Fashion; Evening wear; Women's clothes

Collection code

T&F

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Qr_O110585
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