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Nightdress

1905 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This nightdress was made by Lilian Rowarth as her examination piece for the Royal School of Needlework. It is made of white cotton, with intricately worked bodice and sleeves. The front of the bodice and the small V-shaped yoke at the back are decorated with embroidered insertions and Maltese-type English bobbin lace. Flowers and butterflies are embroidered in white cotton with buttonhole, chain, satin, long, and short stitches, with laid work, cutwork and needle lace fillings. The bodice is pin-tucked below the yoke, allowing the fabric to blouse over the waist in the pouter-pigeon style fashionable in 1905. Embroidered insertions around the waist are threaded through with ribbon. The sleeves and cuffs are decorated with a strip of Maltese lace between embroidered insertions, and the cuffs are finished with a muslin frill and silk satin ribbon bows.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Hand-embroidered cotton and muslin, insertions of bobbin lace
Brief description
Cotton and muslin nightdress with embroidered insertions of bobbin lace, embroidered by Lilian Ethel Rowarth, made in England, 1905
Physical description
White cotton and muslin nightdress with embroidered insertions of bobbin lace. Yoked and tucked bodice opening at the back, full gathered skirt, and three-quarter length gathered sleeves. The front of the bodice and the V-shaped yoke at the back is ornamented embroidered insertions and English bobbin lace of 'Maltese' type, and with flowers and butterflies embroidered in white cotton in satin, long and short, buttonhole and chain stitches, laid work, eyelet holes, cutwork and needlepoint fillings. Two of the butterflies have their upper wings made of detached pieces of needlework. Round the neck is a ribbon threaded through Maltese lace.

Round the waist are embroidered insertions threaded with ribbon tying at the back and front. The edges of the yokes and the sleeves seams are edged with hem stitching. The sleeves are decorated with a lengthwise strip of Maltese lace between two embroidered insertions. The cuffs are finished off with borders of lace between insertions and with muslin frills edged with lace and with ribbon bows. Pin tucks.
Dimensions
  • Centre back length: 152.5cm
  • Hem width: 116cm
  • Centre back length: 60in
  • Hem width: 45.75in
Credit line
Given by Dr W. A. Kane
Summary
This nightdress was made by Lilian Rowarth as her examination piece for the Royal School of Needlework. It is made of white cotton, with intricately worked bodice and sleeves. The front of the bodice and the small V-shaped yoke at the back are decorated with embroidered insertions and Maltese-type English bobbin lace. Flowers and butterflies are embroidered in white cotton with buttonhole, chain, satin, long, and short stitches, with laid work, cutwork and needle lace fillings. The bodice is pin-tucked below the yoke, allowing the fabric to blouse over the waist in the pouter-pigeon style fashionable in 1905. Embroidered insertions around the waist are threaded through with ribbon. The sleeves and cuffs are decorated with a strip of Maltese lace between embroidered insertions, and the cuffs are finished with a muslin frill and silk satin ribbon bows.
Collection
Accession number
T.3-1960

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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