Gown

A woman's closed gown of oyster silk satin woven with light emerald green, maroon and pink silk in a design has a point repeat of sprigs with stems and flowers. The satin of 8 ground, no separate ground weft or binding warp. The pattern is bound in 3/1 twill and there are two pattern wefts throughout the fabric, one green and the other alternating maroon and pink. One weft forms the ground while the other appears bound in twill on the surface of the silk. The complete loom width is 2 x 10.125 and the selvedge is of satin.

The gown is open at the front to the waist with robings; the skirt is made of 7 widths of silk sown selvedge to selvedge and closed. The current construction reflects alterations made in the 1780s. The back is now fitted, there is a waist seam, except for the centre back panel. One panel of silk appears to have been removed from the front of the skirt. The bodice was probably relined with linen in the 1780s. The sleeves were made narrower and original cuffs removed.

The robings have been re-stitched and reproduction cuffs in coral viscose satin added for display after acquisition.