This beautiful dress has been much altered over the years. Made of Spitalfields silk, the dress started life as a highly decorated gown of the 1770s before being restyled into an evening dress in the 1840s. Finally, it seems to have been remade into an 18th-century style costume in the later 19th century. Despite the alterations to the shape of the dress, the 18th-century decoration and trim are of extremely fine quality, and as such, the dress retains a huge amount of Georgian decorative charm. The large padded decoration is stuffed with wool and trimmed with the prettiest hand-made fly fringe. The bodice is lined in linen and fastens down the centre back with hooks. the sleeves and skirt are unlined.
The dress is generally in good condition for its age. Most of the silk is strong and clean. There are some areas of noticeable damage; the left sleeve has a large frayed hole under the arm, which has been patched with silk from the inside to strengthen it. There is a hole on the back of the skirt and some tears around the hem.
Approximate Measurements
Bust: 35 inches
Waist: 27 inches
Front length: 44 inches
Back length: 50 inches
This beautiful dress has been much altered over the years. Made of Spitalfields silk, the dress started life as a highly decorated gown of the 1770s before being restyled into an evening dress in the 1840s. Finally, it seems to have been remade into an 18th-century style costume in the later 19th century. Despite the alterations to the shape of the dress, the 18th-century decoration and trim are of extremely fine quality, and as such, the dress retains a huge amount of Georgian decorative charm. The large padded decoration is stuffed with wool and trimmed with the prettiest hand-made fly fringe. The bodice is lined in linen and fastens down the centre back with hooks. the sleeves and skirt are unlined.
The dress is generally in good condition for its age. Most of the silk is strong and clean. There are some areas of noticeable damage; the left sleeve has a large frayed hole under the arm, which has been patched with silk from the inside to strengthen it. There is a hole on the back of the skirt and some tears around the hem.
Approximate Measurements
Bust: 35 inches
Waist: 27 inches
Front length: 44 inches
Back length: 50 inches
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