Dress of printed silk satin, England, ca. 1845

Dress of silk satin with a high round neck, fitted bodice and a waistline with a rounded point to which the skirt is flat-pleated, except for a panel of tight gathering at the back. There is a front lace fastening. The sleeves are long with an open epaulette. The only trimmings are the agate stud buttons mounted on black velvet bows above the wrists. The bodice is piped on all the main seams, is lined with cotton and boned. The skirt is lined with yellow and white-washed and re-used figured silk. The back is softly interlined. There are yellow chamois dress preservers. Hand-stitched. The silk is printed in the Mackenzie tartan.

Given by Lady Lindsey

This dress is typical of women's fashions of the mid-1840s. It has long, tight sleeves, a high, round neck and long, pointed waistline. It is made of silk satin in a tartan pattern. Tartan fabrics were very fashionable in the 1840s, thanks partly to the continuing popularity of Walter Scott's historical novels, set in Scotland. Queen Victoria (ruled 1837-1901) had just acquired a royal residence at Balmoral, Scotland, and set the fashion for all things Scottish.

T.169-1959