Description:
Gown or robe made of a brocaded silk, with a primary motif of 1" square floral sprigs consisting of red chenille with a black silk floss center, and green and brown foliage, on a self-patterned cream satin ground. Each polychrome sprig is surrounded by a laurel wreath self-patterned in the satin ground. The fabric's pattern well-illustrates the late 18th-century vogue for embroidery on fashionable women's dress, although in this example the effect is achieved through a brocaded fabric woven on a drawloom. The bodice is lined in a plain weave linen with front flaps crossing over the chest (they would have fastened with pins). According to family tradition, the garment was worn by the donor's great great grandmother, Martha Williams Tyrrell (Mrs. Thomas), of Grange Castle, Ireland. Williams married Thomas in 1779 or 1780; this dress dates to the late 1790s or very early 1800s, and has clearly been altered. It may in fact have been worn by a daughter of the couple, though perhaps from an earlier garment worn by Martha Williams Tyrrell. Later alterations suggest it was worn by descendants, perhaps as fancy dress. This garment is nonetheless important as one of Historic Deerfield's only garments with primary construction from the 1790s, a hybrid of earlier styles and later ones to come. Selvage width is about 19". This gown may be a late example of a robe a la poloniase.

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