This beautiful garment is not just ethereal and floaty, it is a testament to the value that was placed on cloth and clothing in our recent history. Made of very fine cotton, this has been entirely hand-stitched, and the wide sleeves and hem are finished with wide pieces of delicate machine-woven lace which date this piece to the first decades of the 20th century. This has been extensively repaired, and the repairs are of a fineness and delicacy to match the garment itself. These repairs were almost certainly done by nuns, they have the superb skill and minute attention that nuns had the time to consecrate to their work. The visible mending almost looks like Indian jamdani weaving, it is so fine, and the patches under the armpits are superb examples of their kind. This could be gently worn - it is still a wearable garment, or it could be studied, or both. There is a couple of tiny pinholes that the nuns never got to - maybe you could practice replicating their skill!
Because it was made as a free size and was meant to come down to mid-thigh on its original wearer, this will fit a medium-sized adult. These are now very rare, I found this one and the others I have up over five years ago, and have not found any as beautiful ever since.
It measures 56cm from armpit to armpit lying flat. It could fit up to a French size 42. Th arms are 40cm and it is 62cm long.
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.
This beautiful garment is not just ethereal and floaty, it is a testament to the value that was placed on cloth and clothing in our recent history. Made of very fine cotton, this has been entirely hand-stitched, and the wide sleeves and hem are finished with wide pieces of delicate machine-woven lace which date this piece to the first decades of the 20th century. This has been extensively repaired, and the repairs are of a fineness and delicacy to match the garment itself. These repairs were almost certainly done by nuns, they have the superb skill and minute attention that nuns had the time to consecrate to their work. The visible mending almost looks like Indian jamdani weaving, it is so fine, and the patches under the armpits are superb examples of their kind. This could be gently worn - it is still a wearable garment, or it could be studied, or both. There is a couple of tiny pinholes that the nuns never got to - maybe you could practice replicating their skill!
Because it was made as a free size and was meant to come down to mid-thigh on its original wearer, this will fit a medium-sized adult. These are now very rare, I found this one and the others I have up over five years ago, and have not found any as beautiful ever since.
It measures 56cm from armpit to armpit lying flat. It could fit up to a French size 42. Th arms are 40cm and it is 62cm long.
Please click on the photos to open them up full-sized.
To purchase, please contact me.
