The Spitalfields Mantua Dress

In the 18th century, Mantua dresses were the height of court style. In this video, our experts discuss a rare and spectacular dress that dates from around 1756. It's 210cm in width, designed to show of how much expensive fabric the wearer could afford. Furthermore, the wider you are, the more likely it would be that you were seen. Few such Mantua dresses have survived from this period, making this a rare treasure within HRP's collections.