Turn of the Century Black Lace Dress

From the seller:

A stunning 1890’s black lace and velvet Belle Epoch period dress.  The label reads  Chevalier Boston. The black lace and velvet fabric is laid over a white silk foundation.  The bodice has a beaded front lace insert.  The high neck collar is made of aqua blue velvet.  The collar has long fringe trimmed streamers that cascade down the front of the bodice.  The bodice is lined with white silk and has a front hook and eye closure.  The skirt hemline is trimmed with two ruffles of black chiffon.  It is lined with white silk.  The skirt has a long back sweep.  The dress is in very good condition.  There is no underarm discoloration and the lining is in excellent condition. There is only one small split in the lining on the shoulder area   There is one small pea size hole in the lace.  Bust 34 Waist 28 Front skirt length 40 Back length 46.   From Me: Same seller as a couple of days ago.  Sorry I didn't get to them sooner!  EDIT: YAY! He relisted it. This is very late 1890's.

Beautiful Blue Late 1860's Dress

From the seller:
This one piece ball gown has a flat front, a high waist, dropped shoulder and a straight, elongated and 20" long trained back (please see the last photos of fashion plates showing similar gowns from 1868/1869 - this also shows the correct silhouette). The gown does not yet have a bustle, but the back part sits on a crinoline that extends backwards.
The gown is made of electric blue coloured silk with matching coloured applied rows of pinked (scalloped edged) silk frills to the neckline, the short sleeves and the hemline of the skirt part.
The short bodice part has a squarish neckline and short sleeves. The bodice is fully boned on the front, as was fashionable at the time, and lined with white/cream coloured cotton. The dress closes on the front with hooks and eyes. The arm/shoulder seams are piped.
The skirt part has a very long train and is lined with the same cotton. The front right has the obligatory deep internal pocket hidden in its folds.
The dress is almost entirely hand sewn (only the long seams on the skirt are machined).

The dress is designed to be worn over a elongated crinoline with a broad embroidered silk or lace sash (see the fashion plates below). The dress is shown over a crinoline that is not included in this sale, but crinolines, bustles and bustle frames can often be found on Ebay.
The dress is probably belonged to a younger lady (but please bear in mind Victorian ladies were smaller in stature) and is a modern size UK 4-6 (EU 30-34, US 2-4) (I wear a size UK 6 and this does just fit me, but one needs very slender arms and shoulders for this dress) (but please check the measurements to be certain) and its measurements are as follows (measured when lying flat):

Length of dress: 52" front; 72" back

Length of bodice part: 13"

Bust: 16" (ca. 32" all around)

Waist: 12.5" (ca. 25"all around)

Width at shoulder: 16.5" (please note this gown still has the dropped shoulders that were fashionable in the 1860s)

Length of sleeves: 4.5"

Length of skirt part: 39" (front); 59" (back)

Width at hem: 76" (152" all around)

The dress is offered for repair, study and/or display. The biggest problem are areas on the top of the sleeves/shoulders and on the train mid-way where the silk is shattered and has holes (see photos). There is also a small hole further up on the back of the skirt near the waist and a repair beside one seam (see photos). One hole is located on the front of skirt, where it developed as a result of an organic stain (visible on the lower left side in the first photo). The silk has considerably faded on the top of the sleeves/shoulders (it has obviously been displayed previously - hence the fading). I think that a large part of the single row of pleated frill attached to the skirt hem is missing on the back (on most of the train in fact) (see photos). Some of the frill is also loose and needs to be re-attached (I pinned it for the photos - see last dress photo). The edge of the skirt hem is somewhat worn from dragging across the ground, as is to be expected.
Otherwise, the dress is structurally sound with the lining in near perfect condition.
The gown is in clean condition.
Please note that I would advise against the wearing of this dress. It is offered for display only. It just is too precious to be worn - a rare survivor.



From me:

Everything the seller said. :-) Oh, and my computer really is way too slow. It took 20 minutes just to post this!

1860's Blue and White Bonnet

From the seller:

An enchanting 1860’s taupe and royal blue silk spoon bonnet. The ruched taupe fabric is laid over a wire base. The bonnet is lavishly pleated royal blue silk. The bonnet is also trimmed with thin bands of black lace. The back is decorated with a large taupe and royal blue silk bow and streamers. The bonnet has a 4 ½ inch back curtain. The inside brim is lined with black net lace and the crown area is lined with buckram. The bonnet is in very good condition. As can be seen in the photos there is one missing chin tie. There are a couple of small pea size spots and light soiling on the remaining chin tie. There is a small section of missing lace on the front brim. A wonderful bonnet to add to any collection.



From Me:

Again, same seller and he deletes his pictures quickly. (It has to do with server space and he lists a LOT of items so...)

The not-Scarlett's dress

From the seller:
A beautiful 1860’s two piece white muslin dress. The bodice has full pagoda style sleeves that are trimmed with a wide band of pleated organdy. The yoke is trimmed with a pleated ruffle and there is white net lace trim around the neckline. The bodice is lined with a camisole. The camisole has short puffed sleeves. The neckline on the camisole and the sleeve are trimmed with eyelet. The eyelet trim can be seen through the organdy fabric creating a very pretty effect. The bodice has a back button closure. The skirt has a pleated attached ruffle that creates an apron effect. The lower part of the skirt is decorated with three rows of pleated ruffles. The skirt is unlined. The dress is in very good and sturdy condition. It has not been cleaned. There is some age discoloration on the skirt front that can be cleaned with spot cleaning. There is one missing button and two 2 inch period mend on the back of the bodice near the button closure. Pink sash is not included. A beautiful display dress. Bust 34 Waist 24 Front skirt length 41 Back length 47 Width at hemline 132.



From Me:



Totally. (Oh yes, there are SUBSTANTIAL differences but face it, you thought it too.)

Bustle Era Bodice

From the seller:

This is an antique Victorian gray taffeta blouse from 1870-1880.

There are 4 large incredible gray mother of pearl buttons on the front and 11 gray glass buttons. Each cuff has 3 smaller ones.

The blouse has wide lapels and a teeny tiny waist. (how did they do that without Jennie Craig?)

There are no rips nor tears and the taffeta is pliable. There is a water mark on one sleeve I have photographed for you and an area on the right shoulder that is a darker color. There is one stain on the lapel I have photographed for you.

The cuffs are great! They have a sewn pleated ruffle and an angular fold with three buttons sewn on it.

The back is obviously made to be worn with a bustle skirt. The lining is brown polished cotton with no rips nor tears.

Bust- 32" waist 22" sleeve length 22" top shoulder seam from collar 6 1/2"



From Me:

I think this is hideous but it has a lot of neat detailing so it comes here to live. :-)

Civil War Era Child's Plaid Dress

From the seller:
A sweet child’s 1860 mauve, white and gray plaid silk dress. The bodice has short puffed sleeve and a round neckline. The neck, armscyes and waist are piped. The skirt hemline is trimmed with ruffles. The dress is fully lined with cotton. The bodice has a back hook and eye closure. The dress is in good condition. There is a nickel size hole and split in the skirt and a few other scattered pencil tip size holes along the fold lines on the skirt. There are a couple of small pea size age spots. Shoulders 11 ½ inches Bust 20 Waist 20 Skirt length 14.



From Me:

Too cute! Again, only one picture, sorry!

Maternity (?) Bustle Gown

From the seller:

A majestic 1870’s two piece gold silk bustle reception dress that has recently been de-accessioned from a major New York City museum collection. The bodice has a square cut neckline that is trimmed with a pleated ruffle. The hemline and sleeve cuffs are also trimmed with pleated ruffles. The bodice is hip length and has a long trained bustle back. The edge of the train is trimmed with a large bow that is decorated with silk and velvet fringe. The bodice and skirt are trimmed with beautiful white silk and white chenille velvet fringe. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a front hook and eye closure. The back train is unlined. The front of the skirt has draped panels. The skirt has a long back train. The hemline is trimmed with pleated ruffles and Van Dyke points. The skirt is lined with cotton. The gown is in very good and sturdy condition. There are no splits in the fabric. There is some light underarm discoloration, three two inch spots on the front of the bodice and spots on the back of the skirt that are hidden by the train on the bodice. (See Photos.) There are scattered pin size to small peas size very light colored age spots that only show in the bright light. A truly magnificent display dress. Bust 32 Waist 24 Length of train on bodice not including fringe 42 Length of skirt front 39 Back length 62.

From Me:

I apologize for not posting lately. My computer at home is on it's last legs and I'm waiting until Christmas to buy a new barebones kit. So, I have to post at lunch! I also apologize for there only being one picture. This seller deletes his photos pretty quickly. However, it's too pretty to not post.