Two dress fabric cuttings, one ivory silk crepe de chine figured with sprays of leaves and berries, one ivory watered ribbed silk, pinned to manuscript note, ca. 1885.

Given by Mrs Dianne Johnston

This is one of a group of cuttings of dress fabric taken from materials used by the London court dressmaker Mrs Elizabeth Stratton to make garments for the trousseau of H.R.H. Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (1857-1944), the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, who married Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896) on 23 July 1885 at Whippingham Church, Osborne, Isle of Wight. The cuttings were preserved, and presumably taken, by Mrs Caroline Augusta Gammack (1852-1916) who worked as a stock keeper for Mrs Stratton.

The Princess's departure (going-away) dress, to which these items are related, was described in many publications. The Graphic, 'The Princess Beatrice's Trousseau', 27 July, 1885, described the 'departure gown' as being 'made of ivory-white crêpe-de-Chine, the tunic trimmed with Irish point lace and bows of watered ribbon'; a short dolman mantle of the same material, trimmed to correspond'.

Mrs Caroline Gammack who preserved these fabric cuttings from the materials used to make Princess Beatrice's departure (going-away) dress in 1885, worked as a stock keeper for Mrs Elizabeth Stratton. Mrs Stratton whose London premises were located at 104, Piccadilly, was commissioned to make the Princess's bridal dress and several other garments for her trousseau. This was a very prestigious commission which confirmed her position as one of London's leading court dressmakers.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) was Queen Victoria's youngest daughter. She married Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896) on 23 July 1885 at Whippingham Church, Osborne, in the Isle of Wight.

T.37:1 to 3-2012