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Bodice

1625-1650 (embroidered), 1650s (made), 1680-1690 (bobbin lace making)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A woman's bodice of white silk, backed with linen, unlined. It has a wide neckline, long full sleeves in six panes. The waistline is at the natural level and slightly pointed in front. The bodice laces at the back; the 7-strand flat lacing in yellow and beige silk is probably original. The bodice is embroidered in a pattern of scrolls, couched in silver thread and leaves of couched silver strip, and flowers in satin stitch worked in coloured silks. A cuff of 1680s Milanese bobbin lace (the right hand has a blue silk ribbon fastening) has been later stitched to the end of each sleeve.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, silver thread, silver strip, silk thread, linen thread; hand-woven, hand-sewn, hand-embroidered, braided, bobbin lace.
Brief description
F, 1640s, Italian or Spanish; Embroidered coloured silks, silver gilt thread, Italian or Spanish, 1625-50, with cuffs of Milanese bobbin lace, 1680s
Physical description
A woman's bodice of white silk, backed with linen, unlined. It has a wide neckline, long full sleeves in six panes. The waistline is at the natural level and slightly pointed in front. The bodice laces at the back; the 7-strand flat lacing in yellow and beige silk is probably original. The bodice is embroidered in a pattern of scrolls, couched in silver thread and leaves of couched silver strip, and flowers in satin stitch worked in coloured silks. A cuff of 1680s Milanese bobbin lace (the right hand has a blue silk ribbon fastening) has been later stitched to the end of each sleeve.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to centre front hem length: 43.0cm (approx)
  • With sleeves extended width: 141.0cm (approx)
  • Bust under the arms on the outside of the bodice circumference: 69.5cm (approx)
Object history
Purchased from Miss L. FitzGerald, London.
Collection
Accession number
176-1904

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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