Green floral silk gown fragment

Dress fragment,
1750-1770,
Green silk/ weft float brocade

Status

Not on view

Date1750-1770

Geography Possibly made - FrancePossibly made - England

Medium/TechniqueGreen silk, weft float brocade

DimensionsOverall: 1 3/4 in. × 2 5/8 in. (4.45 cm × 6.67 cm) Other (With tag): 1 1/2 in. (3.81 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Benjamin Allston Moore, Vice Regent for South Carolina, 1958

Object numberW-2215/A

DescriptionThe fragment consists of an unbalanced plain weave with floated weft brocade. The pattern consists of a vertical, serpentine vine motif with flowers, berries, and leafs. A small amount of lace patterning complements the semi-naturalistic floral motif. The pattern repeats vertically every 6 inches, and horizontally every 2 1/2 inches. The motif is executed by floating, additional continuous wefts.

The small repeat, semi-naturalism, serpentine, and lace pattern suggest a date in the 1750s or 1760s.

The fragment has a pleat creased into it that may be removable via steaming. The floated weft is unraveling at the bottom edge of the fabric.

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