dress

Summary

open robe a l'anglais in Spitalfields silk brocade, woven with a floral design; buff ground with cream figured trailing design, brocaded with green leaves and coloured flowers including cornflowers, carnations and lilac; elbow length sleeves with turnback pleated cuffs; back pleats running "en fourreau" from neck through waist without seam; skirt pleated in either side; skirt pieced towards waist to use small sections of silk; bodice lined natural linen; later family label in ink "Worthington" sewn at neck. Very little altered and all hand stitched: tape ties added at centre front; silk limp as if washed. Silk not designed by Anna Maria Garthwaite (designed at V and A) but very similar and certainly Spitalfields in origin.