Fringe, multi-coloured silk, ca. 1885

Fringe, multi-coloured silk.

Given by Mrs Dianne Johnston

This piece of fringe was preserved with a group of cuttings from garments made by the London court dressmaker Mrs Elizabeth Stratton 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. They were kept by Mrs Gammack's descendants in a handkerchief box inscribed, 'MATERIAL FROM QUEEN VICTORIA'S WEDDING GOWNS'. Queen Victoria commissioned Princess Beatrice's trousseau.

The fringe may relate to a group of cuttings (T.41:1 to 3-2012) from fabrics made into an outfit for Princess Beatrice made of tartan silk velvet and Chartreuse coloured satin which was said to be 'trimmed with a silk fringe in which the colours of the tartan were tastefully blended'. (The Graphic, 'The Princess Beatrice's Trousseau', 27 July, 1885.)

Mrs Caroline Gammack who preserved this piece of fringe worked as a stock keeper for Mrs Elizabeth Stratton. Mrs Stratton whose London premises were located at 104, Piccadilly, was one of London's leading court dressmakers.

In 1885 Queen Victoria commissioned her to make some of the garments for the trousseau of her youngest daughter Princess Beatrice who married Prince Henry of Battenberg on 23 July 1885 at Whippingham Church, Osborne on the Isle of Wight. The fringe was preserved with other cuttings of fabric to which Mrs Gammack attached notes which relate them to garments in the Princess's trousseau.

The fringe may have been used to trim an outfit made from tartan silk velvet and green Chartreuse silk.

T.50-2012