Beautiful design. The indigo blue has been handpainted or pencilled in after the other colours had been block printed. In Europe pencilling was done by women with a horsehair brush which gave a softer colour.
hand block printed cotton, in madder and with the indigo hand pencilled , a little aubergine and pale banana shade, the outlines in dark brown on a cream ground, with a linear design of baskets of fruits within rose and flower garlands caught by bows between sprays of flowerswith rope supports, alternating rows of bows and tassels and flowers on ropes, the bodice with square front, five large brass eyes, the bodice lower front with shaped square section tabs, elbow length sleeves with finely pleated cream cotton ruffles, the bodice back with square neck, narrow pleated seams from neck sides to waist, the full skirt with apron fall front with gathering and original ties, the skirt applied to the bodice with 1/2 in or 1 cm pleats, the bodice lined with linen, the inside skirt hem with seven narrow linen tape loops, shoulder to back hem 4ft5 in or 1.35 m, fabric width selvege to selvege 37 in or 95 cm; wood block 13 x 11 in or 33 x 28 cm
Very very good. The front bodice has some light brown markings. Ask for photos. There are some very very slight markings, which are probably damp marks, to back of bodice. All very minor.
from Oxfordshire
Colour & the Calico Printer p 41
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