Dress

This dress made of a textile from Spitalfields in England demonstrates the high level of textile technology achieved in the 18th century. Both the Chinese- and ancient Greek-style motifs woven into this yellow fabric were popular in those days. Chinoiserie had stirred people's yearning for foreign countries, and its exotic beauty seeded new creations in the West. Meanwhile, the excavation of the ancient Roman ruins of Herculaneum commenced in 1738 and triggered a popular yearning for the ancient Greek and Roman eras, resulting in widespread popularity of such motifs.