1770's Off white silk figured weave gown
Description
Open robe and petticoat, off-white silk figured weave with pink and green floral pattern created with supplementary weft. Bodice closes in front with brass hook and eye closure, loose pleats in back creating 'robe a la francaise,' elbow length sleeves. Gown has brass loops and linen ties inside skirt of gown to enable pulling skirt up to create draping 'a la polonaise.'
Petticoat made from 6 panels, selvage to selvage and 2 narrower sections at side-backs with a godet at hem; pleated at waist with drawstring closure; has pocket slits at sides; Neck edge, front and hem of gown and front of petticoat trimmed with varying widths of striped gauze embroidered sporadically with pink, green and white motifs; pleated china silk trim w/pink and green tassel fringe on skirt fronts and front of petticoat only; some china silk pleating replaced with pleated gauze around neck, sleeve hems, and parts of petticoat and hem decoration. Bodice lined with linen; center back has 6 pairs of thread-worked eyelets in lining; center back seam stitched together.
Petticoat made from 6 panels, selvage to selvage and 2 narrower sections at side-backs with a godet at hem; pleated at waist with drawstring closure; has pocket slits at sides; Neck edge, front and hem of gown and front of petticoat trimmed with varying widths of striped gauze embroidered sporadically with pink, green and white motifs; pleated china silk trim w/pink and green tassel fringe on skirt fronts and front of petticoat only; some china silk pleating replaced with pleated gauze around neck, sleeve hems, and parts of petticoat and hem decoration. Bodice lined with linen; center back has 6 pairs of thread-worked eyelets in lining; center back seam stitched together.
Source
HCT.1988.318.131ab
Date
1770-1779
Relation
Additional fiber images and information available at the CAMEO Materials Database at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Provenance
This dress was purchased at auction.
Design Elements
Fitted Sleeve, Panniers
Fiber/Fabric Information
fabric structure=brocade (Supplemental weft), fiber content=Silk
Decade
1770-1779
Color
Off-white
Files
Collection
Citation
“1770's Off white silk figured weave gown,” Fashion2Fiber, accessed December 12, 2024, https://fashion2fiber.osu.edu/items/show/1208.