An amazingly intricate piece of embroidery and drawnthread work with symmedtrical designs. The design closely resembles silk damask designs of this date. It is lovely to see the slip type flower sprigs on the top third of the petticoat. This is not a complete piece as you will be able to tell from the measurements.
There is a label sewn to the corner. M H Johnston loan and another label, probably a museum label, with L3304.6.
The part petticoat with deep border densely embroidered with linen thread on linen ground with exotic flowering plants and fruits, their leaves filled in drawn threadwork in a variety of designs, outlined in trapunto work, split stitch, French knots, all above flower sprigs or slips in six designs, worked in French knots, trapunto corded and split stitch embroidery, all sewn through a coarser linen on the reverse.
4ft 5 in; 1.26 m wide
27 in; 69 cm drop
The petticoat has been reduced in both height and width. There is a group of small light brown marks near the top centre. Another minor very small mark to the left, as you look at the piece, A small medium brown mark on the lower border to the right of centre. The whole petticoat
See: Embroidered with white by Heather Toomer, section III
What Clothes Reveal by Linda Baumgarten, p 191
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021
