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Dress

1837-1840 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This 1830s day dress is made of challis printed with a realistic design of wild strawberries, bamboo, pinks and anemones. In the nineteenth century a fascination with flowers in printed textile design was nothing new, but during the 1830s it received a new impetus. Technical improvements to the printing process and advances in dye chemistry meant that floral prints could be mass-produced at low prices, and the repeal of excise duty on printed textiles in 1831 helped to reduce costs.

Inspiration for floral designs came from a variety of sources, including botanical engravings, pattern books and plants grown in gardens and conservatories.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Printed challis, lined with glazed cotton and linen
Brief description
Day dress of printed challis and lined with glazed cotton and linen, Great Britain, 1837-1840
Physical description
Day dress of challis printed with flowers and lined with glazed cotton and linen. Cut low at the neck with a ruched collar trimming, long sleeves pleated in the upper part, wide at the elbows and narrow at the wrists. The skirt is long and full. The printed challis consists of interlacing bamboo-like and slender stems bearing small flowers and detached sprigs on a ground striped in white.
Dimensions
  • Top centre bust to hem (front of dress) length: 119cm
  • Waist circumference: 28.5cm (Note: When measured flat )
Credit line
Given by Miss E. Tucker
Subjects depicted
Summary
This 1830s day dress is made of challis printed with a realistic design of wild strawberries, bamboo, pinks and anemones. In the nineteenth century a fascination with flowers in printed textile design was nothing new, but during the 1830s it received a new impetus. Technical improvements to the printing process and advances in dye chemistry meant that floral prints could be mass-produced at low prices, and the repeal of excise duty on printed textiles in 1831 helped to reduce costs.

Inspiration for floral designs came from a variety of sources, including botanical engravings, pattern books and plants grown in gardens and conservatories.
Collection
Accession number
T.184-1931

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Record createdNovember 14, 2006
Record URL
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