{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O115816"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O115816/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD5670/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD5670/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BD5670","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FP7521","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FP7522","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MA7735","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O115816/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O115816","accessionNumber":"439&A-1899","objectType":"Ensemble","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This ensemble represents a popular style of informal dress for women in the 1760s. Known by the French name ‘pet-en-l’air’, it comprises a short sack worn over a petticoat. The silk is very unusual, bearing three different methods of decoration: weaving, embroidery and paint. \r\n\r\nWhen Beatrix Potter was writing one of her books for children, <i>The Tailor of Gloucester</i>, in 1902-03, she visited the Museum for inspiration on 18th-century dress. This is one of the garments she was shown. In <i>The Tailor of Gloucester</i> there appears a little mouse wearing this splendid ensemble with a mob cap.","physicalDescription":"A woman's pet en l'air or ensemble of short sack and petticoat.  Both are made of ivory silk figured in a leaf design and brocaded with a leaf motif in silk thread in shades of green, silver--gilt strip and thread.  The silk is further embellished with painted flowers.   The sack has two double box pleats at the back and a single box pleat on either side of the open front.  The sleeves are elbow-length with double sleeve ruffles.  The sleeves are lined with unbleached linen and the bodice has a loose lining of unbleached linen, open at the back with three ties on each side, and one tie on each side at the bottom front of the lining.  A gathered ruffle of silk edges the front, neck and bottom hem.\n\nThe petticoat is made of five widths of silk and pleated to the waist.  A narrow ruffle and a deep one edge the bottom of the petticoat.  The original ribbon binding the waist has been replaced with a modern cotton tape.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2006BD5670","2012FP7521","2012FP7522","2019MA7735"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES310634"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES310634"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sack","id":"AAT224538"}],[{"text":"Petticoat","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Spitalfields","id":"x29420"},"association":{"text":"weaving","id":"AAT53642"},"note":"textile"},{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"},"note":"gown"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1760-1769","earliest":"1760-01-01","latest":"1769-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"A woman's pet-en-l'air, 1760s, English of ivory silk, figured, brocaded, embroidered, painted.  Inspiration for Beatrix Potter's book, <i>The Tailor of Gloucester</i>.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>The Tailor of Gloucester</i>, Beatrix Potter, privately printed 1902; published by Frederick Warne & Co., 1903.\r\n\r\nThis is one of the 18th century garments used as a reference for Beatrix Potter's illustrations to her book."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Potter, Beatrix","id":"N3618"},{"text":"Potter, Beatrix","id":"A18000"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["439-1899","439A-1899"],"accessionNumberNum":"439","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1899,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Petticoat","Pet en l'air"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2005-08-26","availableToBook":true}}