Thursday, October 20, 2011

1890's Tea Dress













From the seller:

This is a Wonderful Antique Victorian Wool Bustle Dress from the 1890’s!!

Fabric is a medium weight wool … scarlet red in colour. Bodice of dress is lined with a polished cotton – ecru in colour – complete with tailored boning. Hemline of skirt is lined with a heavier cotton/wool blend finished with a  velvet trim on the inside.

Design: rounded high neckline with collar that fastens in front with metal eye-hook closures … bodice lining is complete with boning and fastens with many metal eye-hook closures running from neckline to waist … portrait-style velvet trim along from and back yoke … tiny gathers below trim at yoke that flow to hemline … attached belt section at sides of waist that meet and fasten at center front – with velvet trim … long slender sleeves with gathers at shoulder seams and flared and detailed cuffs with velvet trim … supremely tailored vertical lines down back of dress … tiny gathers below back yoke … gathered fabric at center back waist - then spreads out leaving ample room for a medium-sized bustle. Dress is shown with a bustle – bustle is not included in the auction.

Very Good Vintage Condition!! The dress has been in storage for 100 years and will need a cleaning as it is a bit dirty from storage and wear(near hemline) – but the colour is fabulous!! It should clean up very nicely. As you can see from the photos – there are no large stains. There are small holes scattered about the dress … I counted 11 – there may be more – but most are only pin-point sized. The largest is ¼” in diameter. Most are 1/16” in diameter. See photos of some of them. The metal eye-hook at the collar has some oxidation and has a bit of green tinge -- these could be replaced. This is an amazing antique piece of history!!

MEASUREMENTS:

Modern size: X Small (perhaps for a teen)

Bust: 30”

Waist: 22”

Hips: Full

Length: 52”

Sleeve Inseam: 18”

Shoulder seam to shoulder seam: 11.5” across

Hemline Sweep: 152”

From Me:

Although the bustle had gone by the 1890's, the added bulk of fabric as the back hadn't disappeared completely. This pretty little number is most likely a tea dress, or a house dress as we would say now, given the simple lines.

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