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Overview
Robe à l'anglaise retroussée
This gown and petticoat is made from a burgundy and cream silk damask and features a design of floral sprigs and ribbons. The gown has been made in the English or 'tight-back' style (as opposed to the French 'sack-back style), and is open at the front, with elbow-length sleeves. The sleeves are shaped to the elbow and are trimmed with self-fabric furebloews and triple tiered cream silk lace and silk gauze engageants. The dress comes with a pair of removable ruched cuffs, which have also been shaped for the elbow.
The bodice meets at the centre front, and ends in a V. The neckline is trimmed with embroidered net lace and burgundy fly fringe. The bodice and sleeves are lined with linen, and shows signs of being taken in.
The gown is made from six panels of fabric, 495mm in width. For the skirt, the panels are sewn selvedge to selvedge, except for the two front panels which feature triangular inserts 630mm in length. One side seam features a slit for the wearer to access an internal pocket. The gown is trimed with burgandy fly fringe.
The bodice features self-covered buttons each side of the back seam, and two 400mm long cord loops on the inside. The loops, which were hooked over the buttons, were used to raise and drape the skirts over the hips retroussée-style. Alternatively, the wearer could choose to leave the skirt down.
The petticoat is made from five panels evenly gathered onto a 95mm wide linen waistband, which fastens with two linen ties. The petticoat features pocket slits, and a 475mm long gap at centre back, and is trimmed with a self-fabric ruffle and fly fringe. The petticoat would have been worn over a hooped petticoat.
A gift from England
The gown is one of three 18th century garments gifted to the Dominion Museum by Mrs Bertha Vye of Ramsgate. They were gifted via Charles Lindsay, the museum's taxidermist who was married to Mrs Vye's niece. In 1951, Lindsay travelled to the United Kingdom, and while on holiday collected a number of items for the museum's collection.