Monday, August 25, 2014

Late 1820's Sheer Romantic Era Dress













From the seller:

A very lovely original early Victorian two piece summer dress, beautiful white with green sprigs horizontal Pinstripe sheer batiste cotton fabric. The drop shoulder bodice has a front closure with hooks /eyes at the neckline and the waistline; piped neckline and armysces; two layer ruffles at the shoulders with one being wider than the other; matching fabric ruffles on the sleeve cuffs. Beautiful very full skirt ( because of using a Civil War era hoop, my photos are showing it a little too wide for its correct shape) created with many many cartridges pleats. The waist band which is attached to the cartridge pleats by being hand stitched, has a hook / eye closure and there has been a small solid white cotton piece added to the waistband. Most of this garment has been hand stitched, what is early machine sewn/ stitching I believe was done to enlarge.
Approx measurements taken laying flat, closed and across; Bodice - 17" across the shoulders (dropped seams), 12.5 underarm to underarm, waist 10" (20" total waist) Skirt - 14" waist (28" waist but if you remove the 4" added piece it is a 24" waist) and 40" from top of waistband to hem and a 4.5" wide hem that you could possibly use some of the material for being creative to enlarge the bodice. In overall very good very clean condition, there is a very few pinholes on the bodice and a faint brown spot on the back shoulder - the underarms are very clean. The skirt overall has some very small pinholes and on the hem area there is a 3" long tear and a 4" long tear both which can easily be repaired especially if you create a simple tuck. Because of this minimal issues I am selling as - but then who expects to find a dress this early and with this delicat fabric to be in mint condition? It is a superb example of the era for a woman of minimal means. Happy bidding!


From Me:

Nothing early Victorian about this piece. The sleeve style is what gives away the earlier date - the sleeves haven't gotten to their ridiculous point (about 1834) but they are starting to take on that familiar Romantic era "out" rather than "up" puffiness. The waist line looks a bit raised in contrast to the overall gown - not surprising for the late 1820's. My guess is about 1828 or so.

2 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, what a pretty dress! I may have to rethink my non-liking of 1820s. And I hadn't considered a sheer either.
    Val

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    Replies
    1. Sheers work well for almost any part of the 19th century, thankfully. This with a satin belt would be dreamy.

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