Description:
Woman's partially made gown or robe of yellow grosgrain silk with couched silver metallic thread wrapped around a cream silk thread core (frise and file). The use of metallic thread was a costly decoration for textiles during the 18th century. Its use in elaborate clothing of the period was enhanced when seen by candlelight in the evening. Embrodering with metallic thread was risky, as it could be caught or twisted. Couching, or anchoring the metallic thread with silk, was one way to lay the expensive threads on the surface, thereby avoiding waste and minimizing twisting during its application. The ground fabric is a vibrant yellow ribbed silk with a selvage width of 21 1/4", suggesting English manufacture. The selvages are green in color. The embroidered design is centered on each selvage panel.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.492 |
