Wedding dress and veil

Physical description

Wedding dress accompanied by some pieces of pleated white satin ribbon (original placement uncertain), a spray of cotton orange-blossom, a white silk tulle rectangular veil and pair of white kid flat-soled boots with silk bows, side-laced with silk laces.
[Wedding dress] Dress with an ivory plain silk bodice and skirt trimmed with blue-white satin ribbon, self fabric and lace around skirt hem and on the wide pagoda sleeves. The bodice has a plain round neck, a pointed front waist seam and a skirt arranged in double box pleats with three rows of trimming from knee to hem. There is an oval tab trim at the centre back waist. The trimming on both sleeve openings and skirt consists of undulating rows of pleated satin ribbon, pleated machine-made lace and narrow pleated band of self fabric with a pinked scallop edge. There are pleated bands of white-ribbon at the point of the shoulder and down the centre front bodice opening. The dress fastens from neck to waist with brass metal hooks and two sets of eyes. The bodice is lined with glazed cotton boned at side and front seams. The skirt is lined with cream calico. The bodice is machine-stitched and hand finished, and the skirt is hand-stitched.

[Wedding spray] Orange blossom spray. Stiffened white cotton with yellow centres and coiled wire stems, and glazed cotton leaves.
[Wedding ribbon] Pleated white satin ribbon trim.
[Wedding ribbon] Pleated white satin ribbon trim.
[Wedding veil] Rectangular shaped veil of white silk tulle.
[Wedding boot] White kid flat-soled boots with silk bows, side-laced with silk laces. The boot has an oval toe and flat heel and a centre front seam. Trimmed at toe with a white satin ribbon made-up-bow. It is an ankle length and fastens at the side with laces of white silk threaded through holes hand finished in yellow silk. The boot is lined in white glazed calico and has leather in sock. There is a one piece sole of brown leather.
[Wedding boot] White kid flat-soled boots with silk bows, side-laced with silk laces. The boot has an oval toe and flat heel and a centre front seam. Trimmed at toe with a white satin ribbon made-up-bow. It is an ankle length and fastens at the side with laces of white silk threaded through holes hand finished in yellow silk. The boot is lined in white glazed calico and has leather in sock. There is a one piece sole of brown leather.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

1862 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown (production)

Materials and Techniques

Silk, trimmed with satin, cotton, tulle, kid leather and lace

Dimensions

[Wedding dress] Weight: 1.22 kg
[Wedding veil] Length: 72 in, Width: 36 in

Object history note

Worn by the donor's grandmother, Eliza King, when she married John Oakey in Brixton Hill on 30 October 1862

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

Orange-blossom spray
Britain
1862

Cotton
Worn by Eliza King for her wedding, 30 October 1862
Given by Mrs F. Nelson-Smith
V&A: T.12A-1979 [2011]

Categories

Footwear; Fashion; Marriage; Accessories; Lace; Leather; Women's clothes

Collection code

T&F