Materials: Lavender gray silk jersey,
silk organdy, Carrickmacross lace, silk floss and cording, iridescent glass
beads, 13 steel stays, brass hooks and eyes. Bodice & skirt lining: cream
China silk; sleeve and yoke lining: silk gauze.
Label: Gold stamped on cream
petersham, reads: Liberty & Co. Ltd., Artistic & Historic Costume, 218
Regent St.
Condition: Very
Good to Excellent. Bodice on the outside is flawless; the silk gauze
lining is torn under the lace and organdy front yoke. Skirt has two
1/2" brown stains, and slight grubbiness at the back hemline. The
bodice and skirt's China silk lining is in excellent condition.
Measurements: Bodice: Sh-Sh,
13"; B, 34"; W, 28.5"; Slv L, 18.5". Skirt: W,
28"; Front L, 41"; Back L, 53"; Hem C, 188".
Comments: Beginning
in the late 19th century and enduring to today is Liberty & Co.'s reputation
as one of the world's the leading establishments for decorative arts.
Arthur Liberty opened the House of Liberty (Liberty & Co.) at 218 Regent St.
London in 1875. In 1884 Arthur opened his costume department at Liberty
& Co. He hired E. W. Goodwin, architect and founding member of the Costume
Society, as the new department's director. Together they envisioned
revolutionizing dress and freeing it from the rigid craftsmanship of the 19th
century. The clothing they created is known today as Aesthetic Dress.
The gown offered here is a museum quality, historically important piece.
It has all the right elements of the early 20th century's aesthetic clothing:
fluid, sumptuous fabrics, simple stylized floral embroidery and styling
with an historic, Medieval look.
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