Two dress fabric cuttings, one tartan silk velvet, one chartreuse green silk, pinned to a manuscript note, pencil and paper, ca. 1885

Given by Mrs Dianne Johnston

This is one of a group of cuttings of dress fabric taken from materials used by the London court dressmaker Mrs Elizabeth Stratton to make garments for the trousseau of H.R.H. Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (1857-1944), the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, who married Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896) on 23 July 1885 at Whippingham Church, Osborne, Isle of Wight. The cuttings were preserved, and presumably taken, by Mrs Caroline Augusta Gammack (1852-1916) who worked as a stock keeper for Mrs Stratton.

These fabrics were used to make an evening dress. The Graphic, 'The Princess Beatrice's Trousseau', 27 July 1885, included this description. 'Very stylish was a costume of the hunting Stuart plaid velvet, made up with Chartreuse-coloured satin, and trimmed with a silk fringe in which the colours of the tartan were tastefully blended. The same mixtures were repeated in long beaded drops with small gold balls; the effect was very novel.'

Mrs Caroline Gammack who preserved these fabric cuttings from materials used to make an evening dress for Princess Beatrice's wedding trousseau in 1885, worked as a stock keeper for Mrs Elizabeth Stratton. Mrs Stratton whose London premises were located at 104, Piccadilly, was commissioned to make the Princess's bridal dress and several other garments for her trousseau. This was a very prestigious commission which confirmed her position as one of London's leading court dressmakers.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) was Queen Victoria's youngest daughter. She married Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896) on 23 July 1885 at Whippingham Church, Osborne, in the Isle of Wight.

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