Friday, February 21, 2014

1840's Men's Waistcoat













From the seller:

Description

Wonderful antique early Victorian gentleman's wedding waistcoat, which has been completely hand stitched using cream fabric with cream embroidered floral detail to the front and plain cream linen for the back and lining. The waistcoat has 3 fabric covered button, with deep collar.

AGE -
Mid 19th century, circa 1850.

MEASUREMENTS -
Chest = 33"
Length= 20½" (shoulder to hem)

CONDITION -
The waistcoat is in a very good condition for age, although there is general light discolouration to the front, with one or two faint brown marks, and one small moth hole to the collar. There is also a little fraying to the bottom edge. There is some faint and overall brown staining to the lining and backing fabric. Please refer to the above photographs for details of condition.







From Me:


1845. :-)

Late 1830's Aqua Blue and White Print Dress








From the seller:

An enchanting 1840’s aqua blue figural print wool dress. The photos do not do this dress justice as the color fades out from the camera flash. The color of the dress shows up best in the close up photos. The family name of Kingsbury is stitched inside the bodice. The bodice has a fan pleated front and pointed front waist line. The sleeves have a short over sleeve that is trimmed with thin bands of blue braiding. The sleeve cuffs are trimmed in the same manner. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a back hook and eye closure. The neck center front bodice, armscyes and waist are piped. The skirt is unlined except for the edge of the hemline that is lined with a band of cotton. The dress is in very good condition. There is a small area of light underarm discoloration, a few scattered small pea size holes in the skirt and one 3 ½ inch age mark on the side of the skirt. A very pretty display dress. Bust 30 Waist 24 Skirt length 38.


From Me:

I know exactly why the seller thinks this is 1840's. However, the upper bodice treatment is very in line with gowns from about 1838. By that point, the waistline had dropped, sleeves were looking like...sleeves, and skirts were getting quite voluminous. To see several fashion plates from 1838 that show dresses with similar elements to this dress, check out Charmaine Zoe's flickr set.

Plaid 1860's Day Dress








From the seller:

A charming 1860’s burgundy, green and black stripe dress on a tan background. The neck, armscyes and waist are piped. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. The bottom hemline on the skirt has bands of fabric stripe fabric that are laid at an angle creating a pleasant effect. The skirt is unlined except for a wide band of cotton at the edge of the hemline. The dress is in as found condition. There is mild underarm discoloration and some wear to the piping around the neckline. There are some scattered pea size holes in the skirt and a 3 inch and five inch repair on one side of the waist area. (See photos.) The dress still makes a pretty display. Bust 34 Waist 24 Skirt length 38 Width at hemline 116.

From Me:

I kind of like the repair - simply because it's nice to see they did "roadside" repairs in period too for wardrobe malfunctions. ;-)

Pink and Black Edwardian Outfit












From the seller:

*Period : 1870's -1890
*Label : none found
*Style : 2 piece
*Fabric : silk
*Color : Red/black/white
*Size : no size tag- Actual measurements below...

DESCRIPTION:

*This is an antique 2 piece dress, another from the Sycamore estate of the grandson of a Civil War General, Everell Fletcher Dutton. One of the most prominent wealthy families from the area. He was a member of the 13th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, later commissioned a Major in the 105th Illinois Volunteer Infantry where he was ultimately promoted to the rank of General. This dress we believe belonged to his wife, Rosina Adelpha Paine Dutton, who resided in Sycamore Illinois.

Fabric is silk in a red, white and black print. Sleeves are smocked in two places around the arm with ruffles at wrist to match the ruffles at hem of skirt. Gorgeous black lace neckline. Bodice front extends below waist to a point, inside are stays. Back of fully lined bodice has hook & eyes. Skirt is pictured flat also for a better idea of the shape and width.

Most of the dresses from this estate were in very good condition for their age, this one we observed the following: no underarm discolor - underarm fabric intact - left sleeve/shoulder seam partly open - 3 places in the lace collar with splits (they are in the very fine silk between the stitching) - inside lace collar netting is split - I could not find any holes in the silk of the skirt or bodice (bodice is lined so hard to see through it in front of a light) - there is a very skillfull mend on the skirt that I almost missed which is backed on the inside with a piece of the original fabric, nicely done on the back of skirt by the left side seam. Please view our other listings for more clothing from this estate.




From Me:

So, no on pretty much everything the seller said. The fabric looks like a bright salmon pink to me, the pigeon front is very evident and an indicator of the 1900's date, and the high neck plus the lack of leg of mutton sleeves also means 1900's.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Two Victorian Bodices












From the seller:

This is a lovely lot of 2 early Victorian Silk Bodices. The first is a lavender irridescent silk. Garment has rounded neckline and long sleeves which have additional layer of fabric at shoulder which is gathered and "puffs out" as well as pleated silk trim at cuff. Ten button fastening in front. Deep V hemline in front and back. Lined with ivory cotton? thick muslin?. Five areas of boning. There is additional section of silk added to front which could easily be removed. (don't think it's original) .

Bust roughly 32"
Waist 24"
Back of neck to hem 19"

Condition: Buttons are missing. Silk is discolored and torn under arms (a couple of inches under left arm and seems to have been repaired under right arm). There are three 1/4" to 1/2" splits near where buttons would be placed toward bottom of garment in front. Garment has overall fading/irregular shading. Although lining has some staining, the fabric is sturdy. Study, display, inspiration!!

The second is a light greenish tan silk moire. Garment has rounded neckline and long sleeves which have additional layer of fabric at shoulder which is gathered and "puffs out". Eleven brass hook and eyes down front. Rounded hemline in front and tail in back. Lined with tan cotton/linen blend?

Bust roughly 34"
Waist 24"
Back of neck to hem 22-1/2"

Condition: It appears as though there were buttons at one point, which are now missing. Silk is discolored under arms and has one 3"vertical split in back from back of neck down which appears to be from where garment or fabric was folded and may very well continue down to waistline over time. Lining has discoloration under arms but is sturdy. Study, display, inspiration!!


From Me:

The Lavendar bodice is American Civil War - probably about 1864. The tan bodice - which I think was originally a very different color- is early 1870's. Probably 1871.

Late Teen's Era Brown Dress








 From the seller:
We are very pleased to offer this rare antique 1920's rich, brown French silk velvet Gatsby Era dress with burn out details on lace beaded sleeves. This is a museum piece for the true collector.



LABEL: No Label.

SIZE: M

FABRIC: FRENCH SILK VELVET.

COLOR: RICH, DEEP BROWN.

CONDITION: Very Good. The chiffon lining on the inside of the scarf collar is deteriorating from age as shown in the ninth photo. On the front of the dress to the left of the button closures near the hem there is a very small area where the velvet is missing as shown in the first photo.


ALL MEASUREMENT ARE TAKEN FLAT:



BUST: 19 1/2"

WAIST: 15"

HIPS: 18 1/2"

SHOULDERS: 14"

SLEEVE: 22 1/2"

LENGTH: 38 1/2"




**Please carefully consider these measurements as we do not offer refunds for size or color.**




The 19 velvet covered buttons down the front of the dress, and the hook and eye at the waist, and snap at the collar are all original to this 1920's dress. The long bell sleeves have clear beads, embroidered edges and an elegant burn out design. There is braiding and rosettes at the waist. The inside of the dress is not lined just the scarf collar. The only flaws I noticed were the loss of the chiffon material that lines the scarf collar and the small area where the velvet is missing.The rich brown color of the silk *French* velvet is still rich and true with no fading.




This is the perfect **GATSBY ERA** dress to provide some vintage elegance for a special occasion.




From Me:

Take a look at this fashion plate that I got from Barrington House
The fashion plate is from 1917.  Take a look at the lady in purple in the upper left hand corner.

This brown velvet dress was meant to be worn over a longer skirt.   The waist is too high still for 1920's, but it's perfect for WWI.