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

Gown

ca. 1770 (weaving), 1770s (sewing), 1870 - 1884 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A woman's gown and petticoat of red and white cannele striped stilke brocad with flowers in green, blue, pink and white. The gown is in the English (tight-back) style, open down the front with elbow-length sleeves. The bodice had no robings and meets at the front. It and the sleeves are linedw with unbleached linen. The gown is made of six panels of silk, pleated at the centre back and pleated into the waist seam. The fronts are curved at the bottom and the hem faced with white taffeta. The front skirts, bodice and shoulders are trimmed with white silk fringe.

The petticoat is made of five panels of silk, faced with white silk at the hem.

Both were altered for fancy dress; the gown had pink cotton tape ties added to the front of the bodice and a strip of silk on the right front to cover them. Two silk cord loops (one now broken) attached on the inside of the back waist were probably added to loop up the skirt; there are no corresponding buttons on the right side back waist. The original waist tape of the petticoat was removed and a beige cotton waistband added.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Gown Part
  • Gown Part
  • Petticoat
Materials and techniques
Silk brocade
Brief description
A woman's gown, 1780-85, English, red & white cannele striped silk with brocaded flowers, c1770, English, altered 1870-1884
Physical description
A woman's gown and petticoat of red and white cannele striped stilke brocad with flowers in green, blue, pink and white. The gown is in the English (tight-back) style, open down the front with elbow-length sleeves. The bodice had no robings and meets at the front. It and the sleeves are linedw with unbleached linen. The gown is made of six panels of silk, pleated at the centre back and pleated into the waist seam. The fronts are curved at the bottom and the hem faced with white taffeta. The front skirts, bodice and shoulders are trimmed with white silk fringe.

The petticoat is made of five panels of silk, faced with white silk at the hem.

Both were altered for fancy dress; the gown had pink cotton tape ties added to the front of the bodice and a strip of silk on the right front to cover them. Two silk cord loops (one now broken) attached on the inside of the back waist were probably added to loop up the skirt; there are no corresponding buttons on the right side back waist. The original waist tape of the petticoat was removed and a beige cotton waistband added.
Dimensions
  • Silk, selvedge to selvedge width: 50.2cm
Credit line
Given by Mrs Lambert
Collection
Accession number
839 to B-1884

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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