Wedding dress

Physical description

Wedding dress of ivory figured silk with a pattern woven 'en disposition' of formal flowers with an undulating band above and a scalloped band below.

The evening bodice has a low, wide, pointed neckline, short straight sleeves covered with gathered bands of matching tulle, and a point front and back. The waist is trimmed with a double rouleau of self material. The bodice is boned at front and side and back seams and lined with white glazed cotton. The neck is trimmed with a narrow frill of blond lace through which a black velvet ribbon passes. There is a lace fastening at the centre back with a hook at the top and bottom. On the front are stitch marks suggesting a jewel, flower or other trimming were attached.

The skirt is flat pleated except at the centre back where it is set in organ pleats. It has three flounces, the pattern en disposition, each trimmed with matching silk fringe. The dress is lined with tarlatan.

T.10A-1970 The jacket bodice has a cape and basque trimmed 'en disposition' and with white silk fringe. The neck is high and the jacket fastens down the centre front with concealed hooks and eyes. Circular motif with pendant balls are stitched to the front, two more at the back waist. The sleeved are elbow length with a gathered top and a wide frilled fringed cuff. Body lined in white glazed cotton, skirts with silk.

The outfit was worn with an orange blossom wreath.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1857 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Figured silk trimmed with silk fringe, buckram stiffening

Dimensions

[Evening dress bodice] Weight: 0.22 kg
[Wedding bodice] Circumference: 63.5 cm waist, Circumference: 80.5 cm bust, Circumference: 63.5 cm diaphragm, Width: 36 cm centre back, Length: 40 cm to bodice waist, Length: 66 cm to bodice hem, Length: 37 cm sleeve outer, excluding fringe, Length: 40 cm sleeve outer, including fringe, Length: 28 cm sleeve under, excluding fringe, Length: 31 cm sleeve under, including fringe, Circumference: 78 cm hem of sleeve, Width: 44 cm shoulder to shoulder
[Wedding skirt] Circumference: 76.5 cm waist, Circumference: 328 cm hem, approximate, Length: 101 cm front, Length: 114 cm back, Circumference: 165 cm hips

Object history note

This dress was worn by Margaret Scott Lang for her marriage to Henry Scott at Marylebone Presbyterian Church, London, in 1857

Descriptive line

Wedding dress of ivory figured silk with second evening bodice, England, 1857

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

Wedding dress and orange-blossom wreath
Britain
1857

Bridal styles in the 19th century followed fashion. The cut and decorative details of Margaret Scott Lang's 1857 dress are typical of their date. Her wreath of artificial orange-blossom was probably worn with a veil. Orange-blossom was prized for its fragrance. Scent was sometimes applied to artificial orange-blossom to recreate this.

Dress: silk bodice lined with glazed cotton, with silk skirt lined with stiffened buckram
Wreath: wax and paper
Given by the Misses I. & N. Turner
V&A: T.10A to C-1970 [2011]

Materials

Silk (textile); Buckram; Fringe

Categories

Fashion; Marriage; Evening wear; Day wear

Collection code

T&F