Christening Robe 10
Unknown provenance. "One of the first in my collection." Made ca 1860.
Bodice panel: Formalised paisleys made up of ferny leaves. Very finely designed and executed padded stitchery. Chains of small eyelets and petal shapes. In the upper corners, wheels of concentric oversewn circles, in twos and fours - some circles eccentric. Wings: plain but edging made up of three eyelets together enclosing a three-petalled sprig. Sleeves: Elaborately flowery with one flat frill. Single motif on shoulder with surrounding sprigs and some small eyelets. No fillings. Sleeve has a more pronounced curve on its lower edge but otherwise relatively plain. The back has a flattish frill, with same edge being used around the collar.
Skirt panel: very elaborately designed. Design quite dense right through to apex of triangle. Leaves and concentric wheels with eyelets. Very varied stitching and use of textures in design. Fine seeding in conjunction with chains of small eyelets. Clusters of eyelets of differing sizes and treatment e.g. concentric and eccentric rings. Eyelets not fillings. Lower central panel - leafy - embossing of padded ferny leaves grasped by two paisleys filled with double rows of eyelets, sprigging and daisies. Even lower corners filled with sprays of pods of 'love in a mist' and leaves. Padded satin stitch and eyelets. Hem: eyelet edge pointed with three petals. Wings: stitched out and not in over panel. Same edging as before. Lower part heavily embroidered for 15". Design scaled down for smaller area. Flowing line/stem through joining paisley, leaves and eyelet clusters.
