Green floral silk gown fragment

Dress Fragment,
1750-1770,
Silk/ weft floated brocade

Status

Not on view

Date1750-1770

Geography Probably made - EnglandPossibly made - France

Medium/TechniqueSilk/ weft floated brocade

DimensionsOverall: 22 5/8 in. × 20 in. (57.47 cm × 50.8 cm)

Credit LinePurchase, 1956

Object numberW-2182/B

DescriptionRectangular fragment of a green, figured, double-warp, woven silk with closely spaced stripes of chrysanthemum type flowers, leaves, and sprays of berries. The pattern is formed by the warp floats on a plain-woven ground. Seams are visible on both long sides. On one side, the seam is sewn in green linen or silk thread with two rows of running stitches along the selvedge ends of two pieces, forming a felled seam. On the other side, the seam is sewn in cream-colored linen thread with uneven back-stitching and pressed open allowances and intersects a portion of another seam, perpendicular to itself. The contrasting thread along with the cut edge of the second seam suggests that it was completed at a later date than the first seam. The width of fragment from seam to seam is 17 1/2 inches. The seam allowances on both seams are 1/4 inch.

On the portion of the fragment that was exposed in the frame, the warp float pattern is completely gone, leaving behind only the holes of the binding point indicate the pattern. The warp floats are intact on the edges of the fragment that were hidden behind the frame.

Published ReferencesWilliam Armstrong, “Some New Washington Relics, I. From the Collection of Mrs. B. W. Kennon,” The Century Magazine XL: 1 (May 1890): 18.

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