Silver Mantua

Wide skirted dresses like this, called mantuas, were worn to royal courts across Europe in the 18th century. This dress was worn by Mary Watson-Wentworth (1735-1804), 2nd Marchioness of Rockingham.

The fabric is made from the silk woven by hand using real silver thread. Weaving a fabric this complex took a long time, perhaps only an inch in a single day.

Large amounts of this expensive fabric were needed to create the mantua and the style was designed to show the wearer's ability to afford such expensive materials.

Displaying an object of such value and size requires care, planning and preparation. In the following video, Textile Conservator Kate Orfeur explains how she mounted this silver mantua to give it the correct profile and support it.