Gown
1755 - 1760 (weaving), 1780s (sewing), 1870 - 1900 (altered)
Not currently on display at the V&A
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place Of Origin |
A woman's gown of bllue and white striped silk, figured with a pattern of zig-zags, flowers in baskets and small stars. The gown is open at the front with shaped, elbow-length sleeves. The bodice and skirt were cut separately and seamed together at the waist. The bodice meets at centre front. The bodice and sleeves are lined with unbleached linen; the bodice fronts and two back pieces were lined separately, then stitched together. The back is cut in two shaped pieces, narrowing to a point below the centre back waist. The skirt is made of 5 widths of silk, flat-pleated into the waistseam. There are two linen tapes at the inside waist and two sewn to the skirts, for looping them up.
The gown has been altered for fancy dress in the late 19th century. Boning was added to the bodice fronts, along with hooks and eyes. The skirt fronts were unpicked at the waist and a casing sewn to the top with drawstring, probably to enlarge the skirt. The stomacher was made a scrap of fabric although it does not fit the bodice or the hooks & eyes.
The gown has been altered for fancy dress in the late 19th century. Boning was added to the bodice fronts, along with hooks and eyes. The skirt fronts were unpicked at the waist and a casing sewn to the top with drawstring, probably to enlarge the skirt. The stomacher was made a scrap of fabric although it does not fit the bodice or the hooks & eyes.
object details
| Categories | |
| Object Type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and Techniques | Silk, linen, silk thread, linen thread; hand-woven, hand-sewn |
| Brief Description | A woman's gown, 1780-90, English; Blue and white striped silk, figured with vertical floral trails and zig-zags, Spitalfields, 1770s; altered and stomacher made 1870-1900 |
| Physical Description | A woman's gown of bllue and white striped silk, figured with a pattern of zig-zags, flowers in baskets and small stars. The gown is open at the front with shaped, elbow-length sleeves. The bodice and skirt were cut separately and seamed together at the waist. The bodice meets at centre front. The bodice and sleeves are lined with unbleached linen; the bodice fronts and two back pieces were lined separately, then stitched together. The back is cut in two shaped pieces, narrowing to a point below the centre back waist. The skirt is made of 5 widths of silk, flat-pleated into the waistseam. There are two linen tapes at the inside waist and two sewn to the skirts, for looping them up. The gown has been altered for fancy dress in the late 19th century. Boning was added to the bodice fronts, along with hooks and eyes. The skirt fronts were unpicked at the waist and a casing sewn to the top with drawstring, probably to enlarge the skirt. The stomacher was made a scrap of fabric although it does not fit the bodice or the hooks & eyes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and Inscriptions | Jean Smith married / 20th April / 1789 (Hand written with pen and black ink on the right proper bodice lining) |
| Object history | Purchased. Registered File number 30319/1902. |
| Collection | |
| Accession Number | 939&A-1902 |
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| record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |