Sack thumbnail 1
Sack thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sack

1755 - 1760 (weaving), 1765 - 1770 (sewing), 1870 - 1890 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A woman's sack, petticoat and stomacher of ivory figured silk, brocaded in floral motifs in pink, maroon, green silks. The sack is open at the front with robings to the waist and elbow-length sleeves with triple, scalloped sleeve ruffles. The bodice and sleeves are lined with linen. At the back are two double box pleats stitched at the neckline. The sack is made of 6 widths of silk; there is a waist seam running from front edge to the bodice side-back seams. The skirts are pleated on either side of the pocket openings in the skirt side seams. Down the robings and around the back neck is a box-pleated ruching, edged with a fringe of white silk gimp, maroon silk and pink, white & green floss knots. This continues down the skirt fronts in a serpentine line, with a second line of ruching. The gimp and floss fringe edges the skirt fronts and the sleeve ruffles.

The petticoat is made of 6 widths of silk; the hem bound with white silk ribbon. A band of the box-pleated, fringe-edged ruching is applied in a straight line above the hem at the front of the petticoat. Above is a deep flounce of fringe-edged silk is arranged in a serpentine line, with bows of fringe-edged silk. Above it as another band of ruching arranged in a serpentine line with a bow of fringe-edged silk.

The stomacher is lined with linen. It is decorated with 6 vertical wavy lines of the gimp and knot fringe.

The ensemble was altered in the late 19th century for fancy dress. The pleats under the bodice robings were unpicked; the front edges of the bodice lining cut away. A ruffle of machine-lace was added to each sleeve. The waistband of the petticoat was removed, the pleats undone and a muslin casing added to gather it at the waist. The stomacher was originally in two pieces with buttons and button-holes. The former were removed, the latter stitched up and the two halves sewn together.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Sack
  • Petticoat
  • Stomacher
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, cotton, silk thread, linen thread; hand-woven brocade, fringe, hand-sewn
Brief description
A woman's sack, petticoat and stomacher, English, 1765-1770; ivory figured silk brocaded in floral motifs in pink, maroon, green, Spitalfields, 1755-1760; altered 1870-1890
Physical description
A woman's sack, petticoat and stomacher of ivory figured silk, brocaded in floral motifs in pink, maroon, green silks. The sack is open at the front with robings to the waist and elbow-length sleeves with triple, scalloped sleeve ruffles. The bodice and sleeves are lined with linen. At the back are two double box pleats stitched at the neckline. The sack is made of 6 widths of silk; there is a waist seam running from front edge to the bodice side-back seams. The skirts are pleated on either side of the pocket openings in the skirt side seams. Down the robings and around the back neck is a box-pleated ruching, edged with a fringe of white silk gimp, maroon silk and pink, white & green floss knots. This continues down the skirt fronts in a serpentine line, with a second line of ruching. The gimp and floss fringe edges the skirt fronts and the sleeve ruffles.

The petticoat is made of 6 widths of silk; the hem bound with white silk ribbon. A band of the box-pleated, fringe-edged ruching is applied in a straight line above the hem at the front of the petticoat. Above is a deep flounce of fringe-edged silk is arranged in a serpentine line, with bows of fringe-edged silk. Above it as another band of ruching arranged in a serpentine line with a bow of fringe-edged silk.

The stomacher is lined with linen. It is decorated with 6 vertical wavy lines of the gimp and knot fringe.

The ensemble was altered in the late 19th century for fancy dress. The pleats under the bodice robings were unpicked; the front edges of the bodice lining cut away. A ruffle of machine-lace was added to each sleeve. The waistband of the petticoat was removed, the pleats undone and a muslin casing added to gather it at the waist. The stomacher was originally in two pieces with buttons and button-holes. The former were removed, the latter stitched up and the two halves sewn together.
Dimensions
  • Silk, selvedge to selvedge width: 51.0cm
Production typeUnique
Collection
Accession number
268 to B-1890

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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