Christening robe

The baby clothes of the 1850s to 90s were often made from stout, plain fabrics which would last well and stand up to robust laundering techniques. The early years of the twentieth century saw a move to creating baby clothes in lighter weight fabrics and more delicate trimmings, particularly those garments intended for formal wear and special occasions. This Christening robe is made from a soft fine Japanese silk which was imported into the UK, and trimmed with an unusual machine-made lace with a fruit motif, possibly a European import.