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Collection:
Date: 1920-1930
Dimensions:
Nape of neck to hemline: 110 cm
Front, V neck to hemline: 70 cm
Back, shoulder to shoulder: 17 cm
Belt- Length: 76 cm
Width: 2 cm
Medium: cotton, lace
Object number: HB.07
DescriptionAn ivory cotton muslin kneck knee length dress with cape sleeves. Dress contains a long body and a floating skirt which rises at the front. Contains white details and multiple pin-tucks. Additionally, there are 7 (4.5-5cm) pin-tucks which are 4 mm apart marking the waist on either side of the middle, 18cm apart. These are reflected on the back, where they are only 16.5cm apart. Below this are 5 more evenly spaced pin-tucks sloping upwards and then forming a scallop shape across the middle (see diagram). Another parallel group of 5 pin-tucks meet 5 more that run vertically 17.7cm down. There are then a series of kick-pleats that have the effect of helping the skirt to flare out.

There are 2 seams running down from the nearest of these to the centre. The whole design, including these seams that mark cut-out panels are reflected on the back. Where the design differs is at the neck where the V shape forms a collar that wraps all the way round and has bias-binding and lacing decorating it with an organic pattern. At the V there is an extra diamond of material that has been added and hangs down as a floaty piece of extra material. This is edged with bias-binding and is decorated with fagoting in the muslin, which forms 3 parallel Vs getting smaller as they approach the neckline, where a pleat is formed.

Sleeves have the same green piping edging them and 5 rows of pin-tucks follow the line of the sleeve. There are more pin tucks across the top of the shoulders and 5.5cm long across the top centre back (11 in total).

The collar and the seams at the front and back of the skirt appear to have been sewn by machine but it seems to be otherwise hand-sewn. The part of the armhole without a sleeve is finished with a single ply overcast seam finish. Hemmed 10.8 cm width.

Stable condition, stains and faded brown marks throughout the dress, also a black mark on the left-hand side arm but relatively good condition.