Robe Parts

1780-1789 (embroidered), 1780 - 1789 (sewing), after 1913 (reconstructed)
Robe Parts thumbnail 1
Robe Parts thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Artist/Maker
Place Of Origin

A woman's robe à la piedmontese and petticoat of pale green silk, embroidered to shape in a floral design, with coloured silks. The robe is open at the front with elbow-length sleeves and single sleeve ruffles. The bodice has a round neck and meets at centre front. The bodice is separate from the skirts, with a deep point at the back. It is cut in 3 parts, lined with linen, reinforced with 4 bones, and then stitched together. There is a boned lacing band with 9 worked eyelets, inside each bodice front. The skirts are made with 7 widths of silk and flat pleated into the waist seam. At the centre back, two double box pleats extend from the skirt to the back neck of the bodice.

The petticoat is made of 4 widths of silk and 2 pieced widths at the back.

The ensemble may have originally been made as a sack, and then converted to a robe à la piedmontese, using silk from the back petticoat to make a new bodice, and replacing it with glazed bleached linen.

At some point in the 19th century the petticoat was taken apart and the centre front panel of silk cut in two vertically. The skirt of the robe was removed and a width of silk on the right side used for some other purpose. The sleeves were unpicked.

The ensemble was reconstructed after acquisition for Museum display.


object details
Category
Object Type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Robe Part
  • Petticoat
  • Robe Skirt
  • Robe Part
Materials and Techniques
Silk, linen, silk thread, linen thread, whalebone; hand-woven, hand-embroidered, hand-sewn
Brief Description
A woman's robe à la piedmontese and petticoat, 1780s, French; Pale green silk, embroidered with coloured silks, French, 1780s; reconstructed after acquisition
Physical Description
A woman's robe à la piedmontese and petticoat of pale green silk, embroidered to shape in a floral design, with coloured silks. The robe is open at the front with elbow-length sleeves and single sleeve ruffles. The bodice has a round neck and meets at centre front. The bodice is separate from the skirts, with a deep point at the back. It is cut in 3 parts, lined with linen, reinforced with 4 bones, and then stitched together. There is a boned lacing band with 9 worked eyelets, inside each bodice front. The skirts are made with 7 widths of silk and flat pleated into the waist seam. At the centre back, two double box pleats extend from the skirt to the back neck of the bodice.



The petticoat is made of 4 widths of silk and 2 pieced widths at the back.



The ensemble may have originally been made as a sack, and then converted to a robe à la piedmontese, using silk from the back petticoat to make a new bodice, and replacing it with glazed bleached linen.



At some point in the 19th century the petticoat was taken apart and the centre front panel of silk cut in two vertically. The skirt of the robe was removed and a width of silk on the right side used for some other purpose. The sleeves were unpicked.



The ensemble was reconstructed after acquisition for Museum display.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem at centre back of reconstructed robe length: 176.0cm (approx)
  • Bust under armholes of reconstructed robe circumference: 86.5cm (approx)
  • Silk, selvedge to selvedge width: 55.5cm
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Collection
Accession Number
T.725-1913

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record createdJune 24, 2009
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