Details

Object type

dress

Place Associated

Scotland, Lanarkshire, East Kilbride, Wester Kittochside Farm (place of use)

Date

circa 1866-1867

Materials

silk, cottonm, metal

Dimensions

bust: 810 mm; footprint: 1300 mm x 1500 mm; shoulder to hem: 1400 mm; waist: 530 mm

Description

Woman’s dress (E.1992.6.5.a) and matching peplum belt (E.1992.6.5.b) in bright blue corded silk with silk satin, with round neckline, centre front upper bust panel fastens centre front with three silk-covered buttons but can be folded back to create a square-cut décolletage, trimmed with piped panelled border and frill trim that extends round into v-shape at back of neck. Fitted bodice with darts fastening centre front with eight self-covered buttons (two missing). Full-length sleeves, bell-shaped with double scalloped trim down upper arm in satin to bow at elbow, graduated cuff with piped panel border. Very slightly raised straight waistline. Full-length skirt constructed with gored panels, fullness cartridge pleated at back with additional length to go over cage-crinoline with slight train. Three piped panel bands and two frills around lower skirt. Bodice lined in cotton with four small bones in front and two at sides, cuffs, lined in cream silk with pleated frill around inside edge, skirt linen in stiffened gauze. Peplum belt, fastening at front with hooks and eyes. Piped-edged bow at front, belt and three basque tab panels at back with frills around hem. Lined in silk.

This striking dress and matching belt are created using a bright blue silk dyed with one of the new synthetic aniline dyes. Whilst, some of the new artificial dyes faded quickly and often unevenly, this dye has worked particularly well producing a strong, stable colour that is still striking today.

The dress follows the fashionable silhouette of the mid-1860s with its’ large skirt constructed from gored panels that allow the circumference of the hem to be large without having to gather excessive material into the waist. It would have been worn over a large cage-crinoline. However, the signs of the next fashion can be seen with the flattened shape at the front and addition of a large bow at the back of the matching belt.

Worn by a member of Reid family of Wester Kittochside Farm, Lanarkshire.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted, 1992

ID Number

E.1992.6.5.a&b

Location

In storage