Wedding dress
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
figured silk satin with net and lace trimming
- Credit Line:
Given by Miss H Bousfield
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Download image
This wedding dress was worn in 1841 by an unknown but fashionable bride. The period 1838-1841 was a transitional period during which full, puffed sleeves and short-waisted bodices gave way to a slimmer, elongated silhouette, as exemplified by this gown's long-waisted, form-fitting bodice with narrow sleeves. The sleeves and skirt are trimmed with gathered tulle and applied strips of braid and buttons. The cream silk satin fabric is figured with flower-baskets, stripes and floral sprays.
This was an extremely sophisticated dress for 1841. The low-cut neckline is an especially modish feature which appears in fashion plates of the decade. Many nineteenth century brides wore matching capes or pelerines over low-cut bodices, or covered exposed necks and upper chests with high-necked chemisettes.
Physical description
Cream figured silk satin dress with tight bodice, low V neckline and slim fitting sleeves. Elbow flounce over net and lace elbow puff and tight forearm sleeve. Trimmed with decorative silk buttons and puffs of net. The bodice is lined with grey silk, while the skirt is lined with grey cotton.
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
1841 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
figured silk satin with net and lace trimming
Dimensions
Circumference: 58 cm waist, Circumference: 80 cm bust, Width: 30 cm across back, Width: 35.5 cm shoulder to shoulder, Length: 32 cm bodice, Length: 137 cm overall length, Length: 105 cm skirt, Circumference: 332 cm hem, Length: 55 cm sleeve, Circumference: 14 cm wristband
Object history note
This dress is associated with a wedding that took place in 1841, although no provenance details have been recorded.
Descriptive line
Cream figured silk satin wedding dress with silk net and lace trimming
Exhibition History
Unveiled: 200 years of wedding glamour from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. (Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington 17/12/2011-22/04/2012)
The White Wedding Dress: 200 Years of Wedding Fashions (Bendigo Art Gallery 01/08/2011-06/11/2011)
Labels and date
Cream silk wedding dress
Britain
1841
The cut, fabric and trimmings of this dress and its high-quality manufacture suggest that it was worn by a bride with access to the latest fashions and a skilful dressmaker. Instead of plain silk, the bride chose a fabric with a delicate floral pattern.
Silk, bodice lined with silk, skirt lined with cotton
Given by Miss H. Bousfield
V&A:T.17-1920 [2011]
Materials
Lace; Silk satin; Net
Categories
Clothing; Fashion; Marriage
Collection code
T&F
