1810's Regency Era Plain Sheer Dress

From the seller:

RARE c1830's LADY'S WHITE COTTON GOWN ALL HAND STITCHED MUSEUM DE-ACCESSIONED


A most becoming and charming rare American 1830 - 1835 white gauze like cotton hand stitched one piece gown FOR STUDY. Recently de-accessioned from the Rochester Historical society in New York State, and still retaining its original identification museum tags.

The dress has a high empire waistline with long tapered sleeves and the waistline has cartilage pleating and the hemline is decorated with lace.

The bodice and the skirt is unlined. There is a hook and loop closures at the empire back. Piping around drop armscyes, and travelling to waist line.

The gown is in very good and sturdy condition.

There is no underarm discoloration, and has not been washed, there are stains scattered about.

There is one 1/2" inch split on the sleeve, some scattered 1/8" to 1/4" splits in the fabric, some staining on skirt. Half of the lace trim at hemline is missing with some damage to lace.

None of the flaws are major and do not distract from the overall appearance of the gown. A rare and highly collectible early garment.

Bust 24" Empire Waist 24", Length of sleeves 27", Length of dress from shoulder seam to hemline in back 46". A very attractive early 19th century gown.

The dress is a small size and for display only.

Our merchandise is collectible and is not new and has lived a long and eventful life. We do not launder or dryclean unless stated in listing, and most times have been in storage for many years picking up old age storage oxidation spots. We expect the winning bidder to be prepared to clean or launder items even if item has never been worn or used.
Remember antique fabrics most always has some sort of flaw from being around so many years. Every effort has been made to describe our items as accurately as possible including flaws and imperfections to the best of our ability. We mention any marks or stains that are noticed, in the listing. We try to observe and report every defect that we are aware of to the best of our abilities, to give the buyer an accurate description but to mention every single minor blemish is laborious and unnecessary. As condition and description is largely based on personal opinion, we ask that you look at the photos carefully and decide the rating and pattern if applicable of this item for yourself. Antiques in perfect condition are more often than not, reproductions. We never knowingly sell fakes. Circa dates are approximate and not guaranteed, but dated according to some referencing and our experience. Circa means "about the time" and usually references a 10 year period.

From Me:

Based on the neckline, side seam placement, and high waistline, this is from about 1818. Most of the fashion plates show highly decorated dresses in this cut but with layers of lace at the hem. It would make sense that this would be an everyday dress rather than a fashion dress for a lady.

1840's Dress Remade into an "Colonial" costume

From the seller:

This antique Victorian era blue cotton batiste pink moiré floral print polonaise dress gown 1776 costume dates from 1900. It is made of a cotton batiste fabric, with a pastel blue background and pink moiré watered wavy floral print. There is an off white ecru color embroidered net lace trim collar and cuffs. This charming colonial costume 2 piece dress has a polonaise bodice gown, with a white pleated cotton front insert panel, lace trim flounce ruffle shawl collar, long sleeves with lace cuffs, hook closures down the back, a cutaway, draped, swagged side pannier overskirt and is lined with stays, boning sewn inside. The gown measures 46 inches long, with a 24 inch waist and 32 inch bust. There is a matching fabric long floor length full skirt worn underneath the polonaise gown missing the back closure and is unlined. The underskirt measures 35 inches long, with a 24 inch waist. It is in good condition, but has not been cleaned, with only a faint small stain on the front top of the skirt and some slight fade discoloration on the shoulders (see close-up). This is truly a wonderful piece of Victoriana 18th century costume wearable art!

From Me:

I don't think this is from 1900. Rather, if you look at the waist seam, you'll see all the handsewn gathers that look like they want to come together to a point in the front but the white placket not-a-stomacher thingy is there instead. If you got rid of the lace and added-later white placket, you'd have a perfectly reasonable summery 1840's dress.

It was common in the early 1940's for theaters to take older garments and pretty much destroy them to make costumes due to rationing. I have one such victim (1710's fabric with 1710's embroidery made into a 1740's style frock coat with nylon lining). My guess is this is another victim of rationing. The white placket thingy is to hideous to be associated with the centennial dress (ie, they would never do that in the 1870' - it would have looked much nicer) and, in the 1900's, they would have added something ridiculous like pearls down the front.  1940's makes a bit more sense.

Trippy Men's Bayan Coat

From the seller:

Up for autions is this incredible men's early paisley coat/robe/bayan/jacket circa 19th century. The jacket is a very early grand style, featuring a gorgeous Russian paisley fabric, high collar, wide lapels, long cuffed sleeves, and back neck detail. The front has an intricate double breasted closure detail with 8 paisley ties coming out of 8 paisley diamonds that can be tied in a number of different ways or left hanging with the jacket open. The jacket is lined with a different pattern paisley with an incredible double swirl. The coat is in incredible condition for the age with one tiny period patch by the ties, one small period darn on the sleeve, one small spot of wear near the bottom and some slight general wear. A nice piece of early menswear.

Measurements:

Chest: 22 inches across
Length (Back of Collar to Bottom of Hem): 55 inches
Shoulder Seam to End of Cuff: 26 inches
Label: N/A
Fabric: Wool Paisley

From Me:

I admit, I'm not sure when this is from exactly. It's a bayan/banyan/banyon/ect alright but from when exactly is a bit of a problem. These were popular from the 18th Century well into the 19th Century. This one, I *think* is from the 1850's but I could be very wrong on that. The colors and decorations just look too trippy too be earlier - I swear if I look at the inside of this coat too long it makes me dizzy- and the cut looks similar to ones from about that date.

Here's one at the V&A that has the two front ties like this one does (Even the V&A gives a couple of decades because - with these- it's so hard to tell!)

Oh, and sorry to those of you that get this on a feed. I wanted to save as many of the shots as I could.