Please complete the form to email this item.

Dress

Dress

  • Place of origin:

    UK (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1938 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    unknown (maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Rayon trimmed with lace, smocking and embroidered flowers

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Monica Diaz

  • Museum number:

    B.125-1995

  • Gallery location:

    In store

  • Image in copyright

Many children's garments of the 19th century and earlier had been made from textiles which were strong but heavy, in order to withstand wear and dirt; few were washable except for various types of cotton and linen, and some textile dyes were not only unstable but poisonous. One of the major innovations in children's clothing in the early decades of the 20th century was the use of fabrics like this rayon which were lightweight but strong and easily washable. Advances in textile production had also provided dyes which were more likely to be 'colour fast' so that their colours would not fade, nor present a streaked appearance when washed.

Physical description

Little girl's dress of unlined pale grey rayon, with a round neck and puffed sleeves. The bodice has a shaped insertion of bobbin lace at the top of the neck, and is embroidered at the front with pale pink spots and garlands of raised embroidered roses worked in shades of red, yellow and purple. The sleeves are gathered into bands of self fabric; the skirt is embroidered to match the bodice, and its fullness is contained by two panels of honeycomb smocking at the front and two at the back. The garment fastens at the back of the neck with two press-studs.

Place of Origin

UK (made)

Date

ca. 1938 (made)

Artist/maker

unknown (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Rayon trimmed with lace, smocking and embroidered flowers

Dimensions

Height: 53 cm centre back

Object history note

Worn by the donor, Monica Diaz (born 1935). As a child Ms Diaz lived with her family in Sefton Park, Liverpool, where her father was in the Consulate, and also in Sale.

Descriptive line

Little girl's dress of embroidered and lace trimmed grey rayon; made in the UK, ca. 1938

Subjects depicted

Roses

Categories

Children & Childhood; Children's clothes

Collection code

BGM

Qr_O38516
Ajax-loader