Not currently on display at the V&A

Evening Dress

ca. 1908 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The dress is dominated by the boldly embroidered panels imported from Turkey and made up in London. In style this dress is transitional between the pronounced curved shapes of the early 1900s and the straighter lines (with high waists) that had become current by about 1909. There is some evidence that an earlier dress may have been adapted to suit the tastes of 1908. The inside of the bodice has a grosgrain waist stay (grosgrain is a heavily ribbed silk) with the woven label of Jays Ltd, which bears a taffeta ribbon marked 'Lady Pearson', the name of the wearer.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Bodice
  • Skirt
Materials and techniques
Satin, with silk panels embroidered with silver-gilt strip, coil, thread, spangles, pearls and diamantes, and trimmed with velvet, with boned bodice; net is modern replacement
Brief description
Evening dress, London, ca. 1908.
Physical description
Evening dress made from pink silk and satin, trimmed with a heavy silver embroidery.
Dimensions
  • Width: 80cm (Note: mounted width - estimated)
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Jays Ltd, Regent Street, London. By appointment to the Queen' (On waist tape, inside bodice.)
  • 'Mrs Pearson' (Written in pencil on label inside bodice.)
Credit line
Given by Lord and Lady Cowdray
Summary
The dress is dominated by the boldly embroidered panels imported from Turkey and made up in London. In style this dress is transitional between the pronounced curved shapes of the early 1900s and the straighter lines (with high waists) that had become current by about 1909. There is some evidence that an earlier dress may have been adapted to suit the tastes of 1908. The inside of the bodice has a grosgrain waist stay (grosgrain is a heavily ribbed silk) with the woven label of Jays Ltd, which bears a taffeta ribbon marked 'Lady Pearson', the name of the wearer.
Collection
Accession number
T.193&A-1970

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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