Printed Muslin Summer Dress - England Regency Period Circa 1820

Circa 1820
England Regency period

Printed cotton muslin summer dress dating from the Regency period in Jane Austin's England of the 1820s. This British Indian is printed on copper plate to emphasize the fine lithographic precision of the printing, here motifs arranged in vertical bands of stylized fuchsia-pink flowers, interspersed with straw-yellow coral branches. As is often the case in England, this is an apron dress, tied tightly at the front, with a curved bust and V-shaped back, highlighted throughout with piping. The sleeves are very long, with double tabs piped at the wrists, and could be rolled up à la Mameluck, as in French fashion of the same period. The skirt is round, of limited amplitude, with two rows of flat ruffles at the bottom for a better fit. It comes complete with its original matching belt (which is unusual). No lining apart from a soft white cotton corset integrated into the bust (rare small holes in the corset). No stains or holes apart from rare micro repairs to the muslin. This dress is very clean. Exceptional condition for its age. Not wearable, only for collection and presentation.

Dimensions: presented on a mannequin size 35-36 France. Height 135 cm, waist 66 cm, shoulders 38 cm, chest 84 cm, sleeves 67 cm, Circumference bottom of skirt 220 cm.

Dress presented at the "Carnet de Bal, de Marie-Antoinette à l'Impératrice Eugénie 1780-1880" exhibition in Draguignan in 2023, then at the Musée Textile de Bourgoin-Jallieu in 2024.