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Christening Robe

1840s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Baby's embroidered robe of white muslin. Wide-necked bodice cut to a point in front and bearing a triangular panel of embroidery with a frill on either side and at the back of the neck. The short sleeves ornamented with two frills as well as a centre back opening for tying. There is also a long full skirt gathered on to the waist band, with a panel of embroidery at the front and a frill on either side.

The piece is embroidered with white cotton in stem, satin, over-casting and button hole stitches with speckling and cutwork with needlepoint fillings. At the bottom of the front panel is a compartment bounded by one straight and two curved lines composed of squares, each one containing two formal flowers, leaves and outlined by a double line of oval eyelet holes. Inside the compartment are two large formal flowers with four large three-lobed leaves and various other formalised leaves. Above the compartment are three sprays each consisting of three formal flowers and leaves. The rest of the design consists of trailing stems bearing flowers and leaves, one of which extends up to the waist. The bodice is embroidered to match. All the frills and the hem are also edged with eyelet hole scallops and ornamented with formal six-petal flowers. There is a double line of eyelet holes around the waistband.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Muslin embroidered with cotton thread
Brief description
Baby's embroidered robe of white muslin, Scottish (Ayrshire), 1840s
Physical description
Baby's embroidered robe of white muslin. Wide-necked bodice cut to a point in front and bearing a triangular panel of embroidery with a frill on either side and at the back of the neck. The short sleeves ornamented with two frills as well as a centre back opening for tying. There is also a long full skirt gathered on to the waist band, with a panel of embroidery at the front and a frill on either side.

The piece is embroidered with white cotton in stem, satin, over-casting and button hole stitches with speckling and cutwork with needlepoint fillings. At the bottom of the front panel is a compartment bounded by one straight and two curved lines composed of squares, each one containing two formal flowers, leaves and outlined by a double line of oval eyelet holes. Inside the compartment are two large formal flowers with four large three-lobed leaves and various other formalised leaves. Above the compartment are three sprays each consisting of three formal flowers and leaves. The rest of the design consists of trailing stems bearing flowers and leaves, one of which extends up to the waist. The bodice is embroidered to match. All the frills and the hem are also edged with eyelet hole scallops and ornamented with formal six-petal flowers. There is a double line of eyelet holes around the waistband.
Dimensions
  • Length: 35.5in
  • At hem width: 37in
Credit line
Given by Mrs. M Eadie
Object history
Registered File number 1963/44
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
T.30-1963

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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