Description:
Elaborate gown with robe and petticoat in blue brocade on cream color made to accomodate large panniers, or side hoops worn underneath the petticoat. This dramatically wide gown was supported by frames known as panniers (“baskets”) worn around the waist, under the gown. While panniers had ceased to be fashionable for everyday dress by the time of this garment’s creation, they remained an essential aspect of court dress until the 19th century. The fabric, an elaborate patterned silk known as a brocade, was possibly woven in Holland, which was known to weave wider-than-usual dress silks to compete with those from China. However, the extreme selvage width of the silk (about 28.25") cold also suggest it was woven in China for the export market. There is about 13.5 yards of the patterned silk that makes up the gown. The box pleating of fabric at the neckline in back, known as a robe à la française or sack back dress, allowed for the expensive brocaded fabric to conform to the human figure without being cut, thereby extending the life of the fabric for future reuse. Inside a linen bodice lining it snugly to the wearer’s stays, or corset. Taken with the stylistic features of the dress and its fabric, this gown was worn for court. From about 1710-1790, decorative petticoats were fashionable for wearing under an "open robe," a style of dress that is open across the center front of the skirt. The petticoat could be made to match the dress fabric, embroidered, or made of a contrasting solid color. Overall length (CB) of robe: 69"
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.355 |
