Dress Fabric
late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Indian muslin (another name for fine cotton) was very popular for women's dresses in Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This length, which was never made up into a dress, has been embroidered with a delicate floral design: vertical meandering vines alternating with scattered sprigs of leaves and flower-heads. The use of untwisted ('floss') silk and the choice of satin stitch rather than chain stitch both point to influences from China. A more traditionally Indian fabric for the Western market would have used twisted silk thread and chain stitch.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Block-printed and embroidered cotton muslin with floss silk, silk ribbon |
| Brief description | Length of dress fabric of block-printed and embroidered cotton muslin with floss silk, India, late 18th century |
| Physical description | Length of dress fabric of fine cotton muslin embroidered with a floral meander motif in floss silk in satin stitch. With a design of flower sprigs and continuous meandering stems with leaves, buds and flowers. The design was block-printed onto the muslin before embroidery, and there are printed buds on the field which have been left unembroidered. With a silk ribbon sewn onto the lower edge. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production | Made for the European market |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Indian muslin (another name for fine cotton) was very popular for women's dresses in Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This length, which was never made up into a dress, has been embroidered with a delicate floral design: vertical meandering vines alternating with scattered sprigs of leaves and flower-heads. The use of untwisted ('floss') silk and the choice of satin stitch rather than chain stitch both point to influences from China. A more traditionally Indian fabric for the Western market would have used twisted silk thread and chain stitch. |
| Bibliographic reference | Indian embroidery / Rosemary Crill ; photography by Richard Davis. London: V&A Publications, 1999 Number: 185177310X, 1851772944 (pbk.)
p.30, cat. no.10. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.130-1984 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 19, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
