Child's mourning garment

Physical description

Little girl's mourning garment, in the form of a short princess-line coat dress made of black grosgrain lined throughout with white cotton. The garment has a rounded neck with a self fabric neckband, and fastens the length of the front with metal hooks and stitched loops. The hem and wrist-length sleeves are finished with vandyke tabs bound and faced with self fabric. The coat is shaped to fit at the waist: it is cut in six pieces, the front two of which have long darts. Lines of stitch holes indicate that two mitred pieces of fabric which were originally positioned at the waist back have been removed.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

ca.1882 (made)

Materials and Techniques

Hand sewn grosgrain lined with cotton

Dimensions

Length: 50.1 cm centre back below neckband

Object history note

"This dress was made for my grandmother, at the age of two, to go to the funeral of her grandmother who died about 1882. I thought it belonged in a museum, (or the dustbin?). They lived all their life in Walthamstow London E17. Grandmother was Isabela Ewens" (donor's accompanying letter)

Descriptive line

Little girl's mourning garment of black grosgrain; England, ca.1882

Production Note

Reason For Production: Private

Materials

Cotton; Grosgrain

Techniques

Hand stitching

Subjects depicted

Mourning

Collection code

MoC