Two dress fabric cuttings, one pale pink silk crepe, woven with a self spot, one pink ribbed silk, pinned to manuscript note, pencil on paper, 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.

These fabrics were used to make a dinner dress. The Graphic, 'The Princess Beatrice's Trousseau', 27 July 1885, described it a being made of 'pink satin and crêpe de Chine, covered with small spots, which shimmered under the drapery of point d'aiguille; the trimming was of pink watered ribbon bows, with pink aiguillettes at the end; the bodice was low, pointed back and front, draped with lace and crêpe de Chine'.

Mrs Caroline Gammack who preserved these fabric cuttings from materials used to make a dinner dress for Princess Beatrice's wedding trousseau 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.

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