Fantastic bustle dress of 5 parts - skirt, bodice, small rear apron, large rear apron and a jacket/paletot. In a nice grey/cream wool challis fabric, trimmed in royal blue ribbon and 2" fringing. (fabric colour shows lighter in images.)

• BODICE : Lined in discoloured white cotton, sleeves lined in same cotton but there is a 2+1/2" lining of white silk at cuffs. Two bust darts on each bodice front, and boned. Arm seams are piped, perspiration pads are armpits. The V shaped decoration at front and back is highlighted with royal blue silk ribbon and fringing, same ribbon at neck and at sleeve ends. Bodice fastens centre front with 4 brass hook/eyes and 7 buttons covered in blue silk and stitched button holes. (Silk on buttons, at neck and sleeve edges is splitting.) Centre back waist has waist ties. Sleeves have two seams and two folds near to cuff edge with a pleated frill, all trimmed with blue ribbon. (Frill on left sleeve needs re-attaching half its length.)   Slight perspiration stains at pits. No other damage.
  • Measurements :
  • Bust 32",
  • front neck to waist 13+1/2",
  • back neck to waist 14+1/2",
  • waist 28",
  • sleeves 20" in overall length,
  • cuff opening 10" circumference.

• SKIRT : Unlined; made of 6 panels; waist 25" fastens with 3 brass hook/eyes and two ties added later. Waist band needs re-stitching for 3" near opening. Pleats around the skirt front and sides, gathers at centre back. Watch pocket at left front waistband, large pocket right seam. Skirt has 5 rows of flat plain tiers and two rows of box-pleated frills (4" and 6+1/2"), each highlighted in blue silk ribbon, skirt hem has black wool braid dust guard. Measurements : Length centre front 40", centre back 41", circumference at hem 115". About 6 small moth holes and a couple of spots where fabric is thinning, waistband needs attention near opening.
• SMALL REAR APRON : Consists of large pleated centre panel and two smaller side/front panels, lined in stiff muslin. All attached to silk braid waistband which is badly fraying and split. Each panel highlighted with blue silk ribbon and edged with blue fringing. Fastens centre front with brass hook (missing) and eye, also two cotton ties added later. Measurements : Waist 25", centre panel 11+1/2" deep and 17+1/2" at widest point; side panels 6" deep.
• LARGE REAR APRON : Unlined, curved side/fronts are pleated, rear section is gathered onto waist band. All highlighted with blue ribbon and edged with blue fringing. Measurements : The 1" waistband fastens centre front with 2 brass hook/eyes and two cotton braid ties added later, waist is 25+1/2". Front edges are 13" deep, centre back is 25+1/2" deep. A couple of minute moth holes, and 2 - 3 small areas where fabric is thinning.
• JACKET / PALETOT : Unlined and a loose fit. Fastens centre front with 3 metal hook/eyes (2 eyes missing). Bodice and sleeves highlighted with blue silk ribbon and fringing. Centre front decorated with two bows also edged with blue silk ribbon. Neck edge ribbon stained and splitting. Large bell/pagoda sleeves have one seam, and are piped at arm seam. Measurements :
  • Neck to hem at centre front 17",
  • centre back 20".
  • Centre back at waist has 7" highlighted split opening,
  • both side seams have 4" highlighted split openings.
  • Sleeves at longest point 20", at shortest point 11",
  • circumference at opening 26"; bust 38".
  • There is a 12" area at right neck edge where fabric has thinned and split, also a 1" split area near right arm sleeve at front. A couple of minute moth holes. Large perspiration marks at each armpit.
     

The illustration shown is a paletot c.1871 from Harpers Bazaar.

This unusually rare dress appears to have been cherished and may well have been a wedding outfit. To survive with so many pieces intact is a very rare thing! Despite the damage recorded above, the dress is in very good condition.

Ref : A/10     Price : US $400.00     FREE SHIPPING!   sales@artizania.co.uk