Not currently on display at the V&A

Quilted Petticoat

1750-1780 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Woman's petticoat made of ivory silk taffeta, lined with loosely woven undyed wool flanne. It is quilted in running stitch with ivory silk thread in a diamond pattern, about 2½-inches (6.3 cm) square, and wadded with a thin layer of wool. It is made up of six panels of silk which were sewn together before quilting. There are three lines of parallel horizontal stitching at the hem and the quilting ends 15 cm below the waist. The petticoat has a box pleats at the centre front waist and side pleats. The centre back has an inverse box pleat, with pleats on each side. There are pocket openings in the seams on each side. The waist is bound with pieces of 1¼ -inch (2.7 cm) cream silk grosgrain ribbon, allowing the waist and sides to be tied separately so the latter can be adjusted over side hoops.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, wool; hand woven, taffeta and grosgrain weaves, hand-sewn and hand-quilted
Brief description
Woman's quilted petticoat made of ivory silk taffeta and undyed wool, England, 1750-1780
Physical description
Woman's petticoat made of ivory silk taffeta, lined with loosely woven undyed wool flanne. It is quilted in running stitch with ivory silk thread in a diamond pattern, about 2½-inches (6.3 cm) square, and wadded with a thin layer of wool. It is made up of six panels of silk which were sewn together before quilting. There are three lines of parallel horizontal stitching at the hem and the quilting ends 15 cm below the waist. The petticoat has a box pleats at the centre front waist and side pleats. The centre back has an inverse box pleat, with pleats on each side. There are pocket openings in the seams on each side. The waist is bound with pieces of 1¼ -inch (2.7 cm) cream silk grosgrain ribbon, allowing the waist and sides to be tied separately so the latter can be adjusted over side hoops.
Dimensions
  • Waist to hem, centre front length: 92.0cm (approx)
  • Side seam to side seam at hem width: 137.0cm (approx)
  • Width of silk, selvedge to selvedge width: 46.8cm (approx)
  • Quilting pattern, top of stitching to hem depth: 83.3cm (approx)
Weight: 0.7 kg (on hanger, in tyvek bag)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Olive Furnivall
Historical context
Quilted petticoats were worn by women in the 18th century until about 1790. They were worn for their practicality (warmth) and also because the open style of 18th century gowns allowed the decorative stitching of the quilting to show. Quilted petticoats may well have been one of the few items of 18th century fashion to be ready made
Collection
Accession number
T.264A-1966

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Record createdFebruary 25, 2000
Record URL
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