{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1500958"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1500958/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1500958","accessionNumber":"T.209-2019","objectType":"Dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Once reserved for evening wear, by the middle of the nineteenth century, silk was often worn for day dresses, dyed in the intense colours that were increasingly efficient to produce, with continuing experimentation in the chemical industry. Silk absorbed pigment especially well, and the colour of this dress was  probably achieved with the mineral pigment Prussian blue, which preceded aniline dyes. Moiré or ‘watered’ silk is made by passing the ribbed silk through heated rollers that flatten parts of the  weave, so light bounces off its uneven surface. It helped to create the voluminous effect of the dress without excessive weight.\n\n","physicalDescription":"A full-length, long-sleeved day dress of moiré silk. The bodice is made with two front panels seamed at the centre-front, with pleats extending up and across to the shoulders,where they are twisted and flattened to emphasise the dropped shoulderline. Each sleeve has a narrow pleated band around the upper arm of self fabric. Seams and edges are finished with slightly faded self-coloured blue piping. The dress closes at the centre-back, there is a hook and eye at the neckline. The bodice is reinforced with white cotton lining fabric at the waistline and centre-front seam. The very full skirt is cartridge-pleated at the waist seam, and has a horizontal gathered flounce extending from hip level to hem.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"moire","id":"x35174"},{"text":"silk","id":"x40446"}],"techniques":[{"text":"moire","id":"x36808"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Moiré silk, probably mineral dyed","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Day wear","id":"THES49000"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES307430"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"dress","id":"AAT224227"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1844-46","earliest":"1844-01-01","latest":"1846-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The dress is believed to have come from the collection of an aristocratic family based near Toulon, on the south coast of France.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Day dress of royal blue moiré silk, with pleating from bodice to waist, long sleeves and full skirt. Probably French, about 1845.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.209-2019"],"accessionNumberNum":"209","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2019,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-18","recordCreationDate":"2019-07-01","availableToBook":true}}