Not on display

Dress

ca. 1810 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

White and pale pastels are the colours associated with Neo-classical styles. Gowns like this one and others in the collection show, however, that darker shades were also worn. This printed cotton has a black ground with pink and green flowers. It would have been appropriate for informal winter wear. The hemline at the ankle is characteristic for this period. The use of darts in shaping the bodice of the gown was a new development in dressmaking.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Block-printed cotton, lined with linen, faced with glazed cotton, hand-sewn
Brief description
Day dress of block-printed cotton, England, ca. 1810
Physical description
Day dress of block-printed cotton. With a black ground printed with a vertical stripe of pink and green flowers interspaced with white diamond motifs. The dress has a high-waisted bodice, with bust darts and a deep pointed neckline which wraps across at the waist, and is trimmed with a faced border. The skirt is straight cut with side plackets and ties at the waist. It is arranged in narrow pleats at the back. The sleeves are knuckle-length, with faced wristbands. There is a matching belt attached at the back and an inner waist tape. The hem is faced with brown glazed cotton.
Dimensions
  • Length: 121cm (cente back to hem)
  • Length: 131cm (shoulder to hem)
  • Length: 101.5cm (waisband to hem)
Credit line
Given by Mrs P. Pengree
Object history
The material dates from the 1790s but there is no sign that it has been re-used.
Subjects depicted
Summary
White and pale pastels are the colours associated with Neo-classical styles. Gowns like this one and others in the collection show, however, that darker shades were also worn. This printed cotton has a black ground with pink and green flowers. It would have been appropriate for informal winter wear. The hemline at the ankle is characteristic for this period. The use of darts in shaping the bodice of the gown was a new development in dressmaking.
Collection
Accession number
T.356-1965

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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