Tags
Antique clothing, Antique embroidery, Antique Fabric, fur trimmed embroidered silk dress, garden roses
An embroidered satin open robe, Chinese made for the European market c.1770
Fabric created c.1755-60, embroidered in imitation of a brocade with bouquets
of flowers tied with blue ribbons…
Impossibly lovely. Raspberry silk embroidered dianthus and rose buds,
variegated green foliage on green hued ivory silk, the wing cuffs
trimmed in brown fur…
A simple Indian sprigged muslin gown circa 1800
Simple draw-string to neck, empire-line bodice, horizontal tucked
bands to hem, long sleeves, embroidered in silver thread, the bodice
signed in ink `Monson’
Impossibly beautiful and unattainable items have me struggling to deconstruct the
overwhelming appeal of some objects. Is it the suggestion of another time and place,
suffused with romance? Diaphanous gauze and metallic thread? The image in my mind
of a tiny embroidered beribboned silk shoe skimming a ballroom floor?
My love of roses and rosy tones?
Even if I could afford one of those antique beauties…I would always worry about the sunlight
slowly and inexorable breaking down the silk fibers, dulling the bright embroidery…
these lovelies will be wrapped in a acid free paper, tucked in acid free boxes
into dark closets. Or in climate and light controlled museums.
So I grab my bits of rosy ribbons and scraps of embroidered silk, and
exorcise my antique textile demons…wondering what windows
I could dress with fur trimmed, floral embroidered silk curtains….
and enjoy the surprise of December roses
Other sources: Slippers (c. 1820) from Snowshill collection in Shoes and Slippers by Althea Mackenzie
Watercolor by JJ Grandville
There’s NOTHING like antique textiles, Trish (the new creations, which nice, simply can’t compare). The first two photos are unbelievably beautiful. Thank you once again for your keen eye.
Shannon
This is fall-on-the-floor gorgeous! It is truly “impossibly beautiful”, and the colors and details are breathtaking…you find the most wonderful things!
Have a great holiday season!
Stella xxx
Our first purchase as a young couple was a vintage silk dresser scarf with about 20 inches on each end of silk crazy work with embroidery, etc. Textiles have first place in my heart, however, I lament that fact as with the acid free tissue and acid free boxes, I open them only to find that they have deteriorated anyway. Always, thank you for
your inspiration. I say, Merry Christmas. Marnie
Luscious. Do you read the Textile Blog? Amazing work from the four corners of the earth. This profound draw to beauty with a needle and thread. Makes me melt. And in museums when they are credited to Anon you know they were done by women. And yes, there is something both sad and compelling about a rose blooming in the snow.
Thanks for all your comments. The 18th century gown back shot is incredible for its close up recognition of the artistry in creating the dress…the incredible symmetry at the most focal point, extending even onto the sleeves. And the sleeve detail further demonstrates the artful floral design, executed expertly by embroiderers…3 dimensional, tactile relief in subtle gradations of color, more complex and extraordinary than a painter’s shading, though equally as vibrant and lush. The fur trim is overachieving at it’s best…gilding the lily. I can hardly take my eye away from those top 2 photos. I’m glad I’m not alone in appreciating this art.
I can only imagine how amazing it would be to slip into that stunning embroidered satin, fur trimmed robe on Christmas morning. It’s perfectly festive for the occasion! And the wonderful treasure and opera glass pouches you have created are absolutely enchanting. I adore all of the bits and pieces of yesterday incorporated into your designs. ~jermaine~
Beautiful! The quality of your pictures is extra ordinary!!!!
Greet
Outstanding!
You are a treasure trove of rare and beautiful things.
xo xo
PS I am sending a link to your blog to a friend of mine who is a museum level textile conservator. I’m sure she is going to become a regular reader.
Thank you Valorie! My silk sample book arrived today with (shudder) cellophane tape applied liberally. Hope to post about it tomorrow.
oh just absolutely beautifull! you made me jump up and run to my closet with my few treasured textiles…just to touch them.-amongst it a lenth of pale pink silk embroidered with sage green thistles….it belonged to a lady who planned to have it sewn into a nightgown…her fiance never returned from the war, and she kept onto the fabric for all those years…I acquired it from her 24 years ago..she was 72 years old and never got married..
thank you Trish
Colette- South Africa
Hello Colette…thank you for sharing the story, so poignant. Love thistles. It must be beautiful.
Beautiful doesn’t adequately describe these gowns. I love the muslin 1800 gown – something straight out of Austen
I agree…Wish we could see a closer view of the silver metallic embroidery.
thank you sooooo mutch, i will soon borrow some of your amazing pic’s! love love love love these!
agneta, the swedish one
The darling slipper fabric is identical to a fabric sample ( a Brunschwig ?) I have. I know many are documents-will have to find that one and check it out. Of course the first is just overwhelming. G
I was born in textiles and I don’t know how come I haven’t became a textile antiques dealer !!! I love to collect them. Love your ribbons and silks
Hi Trish! I saw that embroidered gown on the auction site this past week and saved them to my inspiration file too! How lovely to see them showcased with all the other roses and ribbons…your pochettes are delightful and I enjoyed them very much. Thanks again for a great post!
Susan
P.S. I took note of that fur trim too…it got me thinking…
The fur trim on the dress is divine! Fairytale balls surely required a gown such as this…
ulla