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Embroidered Polonaise
1770s/80s

A charming simply embroidered linen dress, perhaps for a provincial lady. She may have embroidered the linen herself.  There are four linen flat looped tapes along the hem, to attach a tie tape, further up the skirt, to raise it and tie to make the skirt into a polonaise. I have never seen these flat tapes before.

 


Cataloguing

Of white linen embroidered with scattered small three leaf clovers in pinky/mauve wools, the gown front with a deep neck with original linen ties, the front bodice points, cut flat at the bottom, the back bodice with horizontal seams across the back shoulders, the sleeves caught in at the cuff, straightish waist with flat pleats, the inside skirt hem with four original flat linen tapes and one double tape for pulling the skirt into a polonaise.



Shoulder to hem 54 in;1.37 m



Shoulder to waist seam 14 in; 36 cm



 Underarm bodice width 35 in; 88 cm


Condition

In the 1780s the skirt pleating was changed to keep up with the latest style of new muslin dresses following the waist and no longer going to the bodice's back central point. The pleats are now grouped in two pleats. I think the sleeves are original. No stains or tears and in very good condition.



 



 



 



 


Comments

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O359200/gown-unknown/