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Dress

Dress
1875-1899 (made)
Place of origin

T143 Dress - Dress of cotton, embroidered with coloured silks (cheifly pink) and silvered copper thread and spangles. Cut high and gathered at the neck, with long sleeves and pleated cuffs; the skirt is long. The pattern is cheifly worked closely in rectangular panels and bands of various sizes. On the sleeves and on either side of the front opening it consists of diapers of small squares within floral festoons and of star devices and lozenges. The rest of the patten forms tiny floral sprigs and other small floral motifs along the seams, the opening in front, round the edges of the cuffs and round the bottom of the dress.

T143A Skirt - Skirt of plum-coloured wool, accordian pleated and embroidered with copper-gilt and silvered copper strips round the lower part. The pattern consists of vertical wavy bands and rosettes (many in close triple rows), above a border of horiztontal wavy stripes and symmetrical plant devices. The garment fastens at the back, and there is a black waitsband.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Dress
  • Skirt
TitleDress
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Dress and skirt, cotton, wool, embroidered silk and copper gilt, Romania, 1875-1899.
Physical description
T143 Dress - Dress of cotton, embroidered with coloured silks (cheifly pink) and silvered copper thread and spangles. Cut high and gathered at the neck, with long sleeves and pleated cuffs; the skirt is long. The pattern is cheifly worked closely in rectangular panels and bands of various sizes. On the sleeves and on either side of the front opening it consists of diapers of small squares within floral festoons and of star devices and lozenges. The rest of the patten forms tiny floral sprigs and other small floral motifs along the seams, the opening in front, round the edges of the cuffs and round the bottom of the dress.

T143A Skirt - Skirt of plum-coloured wool, accordian pleated and embroidered with copper-gilt and silvered copper strips round the lower part. The pattern consists of vertical wavy bands and rosettes (many in close triple rows), above a border of horiztontal wavy stripes and symmetrical plant devices. The garment fastens at the back, and there is a black waitsband.
Dimensions
  • T143 dress length: 51in
  • T143 dress width: 15.5in (Note: Width across shoulders)
  • T143 dress width: 36in (Note: Width along the bottom.)
  • T143 a skirt length: 33in
  • T143 a skirt weight: 60in (Note: Greatest width)
Dimensions have been taken from historic register and have not been checked.
Credit line
RP 1924/7841
Object history
The dress was slightly staineed and slightly repaired, with metal strips of the petticoat being worn out.

The ensemble was a gift to the V&A from H.M. the Queen of Romania per Mr. Miles Weddenburn Lampoon of the Foreign Office.

A note in the register from 17.06.1971 says: 'according to Mrs Secosan, costume expert at the Institute for CUlturasl Relations with Foreign Countries, Bucharest, these two pieces are genuine, but do not belong together. Dress: Northern Oltenia, Vulca or Gorj districts. SKirt: Southern Oltenian, Mehedinti or Dolj districts.'
Collection
Accession number
T.143-1924

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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