Typical neo classical gown imitating Roman and Greek garments. Bucks refers to Buckinghamshire a county to the north west of London where there was an extensive lace industry during the 18th and 19th centuries. The bosom coverings and cuff endings are most unusual. See: Johnston, Lucy Nineteenth Century Fashion in Detail p 40 See: Fashion. Kyoto Costume Institute p162 For details of the Spitalfield silk stole see Shawls section - woven.
of fine white muslin, the shallow fall front bodice with Bucks lace to the top and sides framing the bosom sections which are made from tightly ruched muslin, a double row of lace to the centre, drawstring neckline, a narrow tape to tie the front round the back, the bodice V back with narrow hand made Bucks lace in a zig zag pattern, similar insets to the back vertical seams, the gently gathered short sleeves with deeper inserts to the cuff area edged with similar ruched muslin, the long trained skirt caught into the back with tight gathering, with spotted C scrolls of hand embroidered flowers and leaf sprays to the hem, 51 in; 1.3 m shoulder to front hem, approx 8 ft; 2.45 m shoulder to back hem.
Overall very good and clean in appearance. There are two small very old darns to the dresses right hand fall front. Also three specks of rust coloured marking to one darn. There is a small area of old darns to the hem front, which hardly show because of the embroidery. The centre back has a little damage and an old darn, which could be improved upon. The train to one side has an area of old darning approx 1 x 1/2 in and another small area. Three black specks to the other side. I think a conservator would be able to remove these.
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