Details

Object type

dress

Artist/Maker

Simpson, Hunter & Young maker

Place Associated

Scotland, Glasgow, 57-61 Buchanan Street (place of manufacture)

Date

circa 1895

Materials

silk, cotton, metal

Dimensions

bust: 860 mm; footprint: 750 mm x 850 mm; waist: 580 mm

Description

Woman’s dress, consisting of bodice (E.1973.57.e.1) and matching skirt (E.1973.57.e.2), in purple silk velvet with purple corded silk and cream machine-embroidered chemical lace with net bands. Bodice with small standing collar overlaid with deep falling frill of cream net and lace, fitted bodice with darts decorated with loosely arranged horizontal panel of purple corded silk across upper bust with ruched rosette at centre front, inverted v-shape at front covered in cream lace except for one stripe of velvet either side, fastening on left with eleven metal hooks and thread eyes to waist and five metal hooks and silk in flared basque, v-shaped waistline. Full-length gigot or leg-of-mutton sleeves with fullness pleated into shoulder overlaid with deep frill of cream lace, tapering into fitted cuff trimmed with narrow band of cream lace around lower arm and wider open-ended band at cuff. Back fitted with slight v-shaped waistline and small basque with curved hem. Lined in dark brown striped cotton with thirteen bones, fastening internally centre front with twelve alternating metal hooks and eyes, with black waist tape woven ‘SIMPSON, HUNTER & YOUNG / GLASGOW’. Dress shields attached stamped 'Paris'. Skirt, full-length, gored panels attached to waistband flat at front with fullness gathered into centre back, waistband fastening centre back with four metal hooks and eyes. Small pocket in side seam and large pocket in back seam.

This two-piece dress is made in purple silk velvet trimmed with cream chemical lace. Traditionally this vibrant shade of purple would only have been possible using the expensive imported Tyrian purple. However, after William Perkin’s discovery of aniline dyes in 1856 new shades of purple became available to a wider range of people.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted, 1973

ID Number

E.1973.57.e

Location

In storage