Christening Robe thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Christening Robe

ca. 1830 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Christening robe of white cotton muslin embroidered in white cotton. With a wide neck, short set-in sleeves, long skirt, back fastening with drawstrings at the neck and waist. Decorated with frills over the shoulders, on the sleeves and down the sides of the front panels of the skirt and bodice. The frills and the hem are scalloped and within each scallop is a hare bell worked with a needlepoint centre. There is a line of eyelet holes along the edge.

The front skirt panel is decorated at the bottom with a design of large leaves joined by curving leafy stems with small floral sprigs. The leaves are arranged in four rows to form a triangular-shaped area of decoration. Small separate sprigs of flowers cover the remaining area. The large leaves and the centres of the flowers are worked with a variety of needlepoint fillings. The same motifs are repeated in the bodice panel. The neck is decorated with a line of broderie anglaise joined on with an openwork seam. The waist line is decorated with a row of French knots.

The robe is hand-sewn throughout and is embroidered in white cotton with raised satin stitch, stem and button-hole stitches, eyelet holes and a variety of needlepoint fillings.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Embroidered cotton muslin with cotton
Brief description
Christening robe of cotton muslin embroidered in cotton, made in Ayrshire, Scotland, ca. 1830
Physical description
Christening robe of white cotton muslin embroidered in white cotton. With a wide neck, short set-in sleeves, long skirt, back fastening with drawstrings at the neck and waist. Decorated with frills over the shoulders, on the sleeves and down the sides of the front panels of the skirt and bodice. The frills and the hem are scalloped and within each scallop is a hare bell worked with a needlepoint centre. There is a line of eyelet holes along the edge.

The front skirt panel is decorated at the bottom with a design of large leaves joined by curving leafy stems with small floral sprigs. The leaves are arranged in four rows to form a triangular-shaped area of decoration. Small separate sprigs of flowers cover the remaining area. The large leaves and the centres of the flowers are worked with a variety of needlepoint fillings. The same motifs are repeated in the bodice panel. The neck is decorated with a line of broderie anglaise joined on with an openwork seam. The waist line is decorated with a row of French knots.

The robe is hand-sewn throughout and is embroidered in white cotton with raised satin stitch, stem and button-hole stitches, eyelet holes and a variety of needlepoint fillings.
Dimensions
  • Waist circumference: 19.75in
  • Skirt length: 39.5in
  • Length: 46.5in (maximum)
Credit line
Given by Miss R. E. Cleeve and Miss I. G. Cleeve
Collection
Accession number
T.250-1967

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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