Gown thumbnail 1
Gown thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Gown

1780s (printing), 1780 - 1785 (sewing), 1785 - 1790 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A woman's gown of white cotton muslin, roller-printed in wide scalloped stripes of dense vermicelli pattern in beige separating with vertical coloured festoons of coloured flowers, leaves, ribbon bows and tassels. The gown is open at the front with separate bodice and skirt, seamed at the waist. It has elbow-length sleeves, shaped over the elbow, trimmed with a narrow band of the cotton. The bodice meets at the centre front. The bodice and sleeves are lined with bleached linen. The back is cut in 4 pieces tapering at the waist. The skirt is made of 3 widths of cotton, flat-pleated into the waist.

The gown was altered, probably in the late 1780s, to update the style and possibly for a larger wearer. The back of the gown was originally pointed at the waist, with casings stitched in the lining for two bones. The bodice was removed from the skirt, the bones removed and the skirt sewn back about 2.5 cm higher on the bodice and straight across the back waist. A 4 cm band of cotton was added on either side of the front opening, with corresponding addition to the bodice lining. A line of stitching 1 cm from the front neckline on either side was added to create a casing for a narrow linen tape drawstring.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton, linen, linen thread; hand-woven, roller-printed, hand-sewn
Brief description
A woman's gown, 1780-1785, English; White cotton muslin, roller-printed vertical floral trails and band of brown vermicelli pattern, English, 1780s; altered 1785-90
Physical description
A woman's gown of white cotton muslin, roller-printed in wide scalloped stripes of dense vermicelli pattern in beige separating with vertical coloured festoons of coloured flowers, leaves, ribbon bows and tassels. The gown is open at the front with separate bodice and skirt, seamed at the waist. It has elbow-length sleeves, shaped over the elbow, trimmed with a narrow band of the cotton. The bodice meets at the centre front. The bodice and sleeves are lined with bleached linen. The back is cut in 4 pieces tapering at the waist. The skirt is made of 3 widths of cotton, flat-pleated into the waist.

The gown was altered, probably in the late 1780s, to update the style and possibly for a larger wearer. The back of the gown was originally pointed at the waist, with casings stitched in the lining for two bones. The bodice was removed from the skirt, the bones removed and the skirt sewn back about 2.5 cm higher on the bodice and straight across the back waist. A 4 cm band of cotton was added on either side of the front opening, with corresponding addition to the bodice lining. A line of stitching 1 cm from the front neckline on either side was added to create a casing for a narrow linen tape drawstring.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem at centre back length: 147.0cm (approx)
  • Bust under armholes circumference: 113.5cm (approx)
  • Cotton, selvedge to selvedge width: 100.5cm
Production typeUnique
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
687-1894

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

Record createdApril 21, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest