Dress

Satin brocade dress. Dress believed to have been altered in Queen Anne's time. White silk brocaded with large flowers (?C19 fabric). Bodice cut en fourreau; ruched cuffs to sleeves; polonaise buttons at back waist; robings at front. Fully lined with glazed cotton; trimmed with red silk piping (1830s).
Condition: dirty; remade but almost unfaded. Alteration Notes: almost totally remade possibly 1830s; fabric dates to 1740s – dress may originally date to that time, but there is no evidence of it left; dress was made into 1770s/80s style at that time – sleeve decoration, cut of en fourreau back and skirt pleating appear original to this time, although waist and back bodice seams were clearly re-sewn later; fancy dress or made for actual wear c. 1830s? All sewing is still by hand; pocket slits still intact, but moved from the sides towards the back.