Gown thumbnail 1
Gown thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Fashion, Room 40

Gown

1770s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The gown is made of white cotton printed in purple in vertical rows of chinoiserie ornament, possibly inspired by prints of Jean Pillement. The gown is open at the front, with elbow-length sleeves, ending in pleated cuffs. The bodice has a wide robing and half a stomacher sewn on each side. It is pleated at the back, the fabric of these pleats continues into the centre-back of the skirt. The bodice, sleeves and cuffs are lined with coarse linen. The skirt is made of 3 widths of fabric, folded down at the waist, cartridge-pleated and stitched to the bodice on either side of the back pleats. The front edges of the skirt are faced with coarse linen; the hem is faced with 1&1/4 inch-wide tape. The 13 hooks and eyes on either side of the stomacher fronts appear to be original.

The tucks underneath the robings on either side of the front may be later alterations.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton, linen; hand-woven, block-printed and hand-sewn.
Brief description
A woman's gown, Dutch, 1770s, of white cotton, copperplate printed in purple, in England
Physical description
The gown is made of white cotton printed in purple in vertical rows of chinoiserie ornament, possibly inspired by prints of Jean Pillement. The gown is open at the front, with elbow-length sleeves, ending in pleated cuffs. The bodice has a wide robing and half a stomacher sewn on each side. It is pleated at the back, the fabric of these pleats continues into the centre-back of the skirt. The bodice, sleeves and cuffs are lined with coarse linen. The skirt is made of 3 widths of fabric, folded down at the waist, cartridge-pleated and stitched to the bodice on either side of the back pleats. The front edges of the skirt are faced with coarse linen; the hem is faced with 1&1/4 inch-wide tape. The 13 hooks and eyes on either side of the stomacher fronts appear to be original.

The tucks underneath the robings on either side of the front may be later alterations.
Dimensions
  • Right shoulder to right hem length: 149.5cm (approx.)
  • Bust under armholes circumference: 100.00cm (approx)
  • Width of fabric selvage to selvage width: 91.5cm (approx)
Credit line
Purchased with funds from the Betty Saunders bequest
Collection
Accession number
T.26-2018

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Record createdOctober 13, 2017
Record URL
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