Edwardian Silk Dress with Lace Front

From the seller:

This is an extraordinary handmade dress that must have cost a fortune in it's day. It is a creamy luxurious silk satin with a fine worked bodice, bustle skirt and ribbon sash. It was probably a wedding dress or made for something just as special.

The dress has no major stains or odors but it does have some restoration needs; the skirt waistband has become detached ( NOT RIPPED) from the skirt at the back bustle pleating (see 10th photo), the silk panels on the back of the bodice need to be reattached with some slight tacking (see photo of bodice back). There is tearing in two left front pleats (see 11th photo). This could be fixed by eliminating these two pleats when adjusting and re-attaching the skirt pleating to the waistband. There is enough material in this skirt to work with fixing this issue. I have further detailed photos.

The skirt has tons of medium to heavy weight material and pleating and a heavyweight inner attached petticoat. It is luxurious, silky and a beautiful cream color- no fading only one small hole which is lost in the pleating and volume.There is a very pretty train and detailed inner petticoat with three tiered ruffle hem. The overall quality of the beautiful silk satin material is good and it makes a beautiful rustle sound when moved.

The bodice is in good condition but has a tear in the front (back) lace, about one inch, which can be reattached leaving a smaller space of missing lace. The last photo is of the flap of loose lace folded back. (ask for photo of it in place to get an idea of repaired look) The bodice has balloon sheer sleeves with wonderful gathered ruching detail on the inner side seams and intricate fine sewn gathering at the ballon sleeve hem. There is a slight tear in the top left shoulder seam of the fine pleated chiffon which can be restored with delicate mending and the right sleeve has small rips in the folds near the the side seam visible mostly with movement of sleeve. (ask for photo) . The front and back of the bodice have fine hand laced V panels ( the back lace is all in good condition) and chiffon and silk detailed pieces on the back (see photos) There is extraordinarily intricate front and back rose and lace pendulums with fabulous workmanship. There are smaller rose buds which hang from finely twined thread. There is an interior waist belt for securing bodice in place. There is extensive boning in the bodice and metal hook and eye closure on both pieces.

The Sash is 4" wide and 80" length ribbon with bow which I have placed in the back and folded in the front of the dress.

The dress does not need a cleaning but it does need a steam press and please consider the manikin is too large for the dress.

Measurements:
Shoulders 16", Waist 13", Back length 16.5
Skirt: waist 16", Length 41"


From Me:

1908 Fashion Plate via the Bartos Collection

You get a much better idea of what the sleeves should have looked like when the bodice is pictured flat. The back isn't bustled (seriously, do these ebay sellers just not have backsides?) and the waistline is typically of the late Edwardian period.