This beautiful little hand-stitched 1780s bodice is in exquisite sea-green brocaded silk taffeta. The open front would have been filled in with a V-shaped stomacher or lace fichu, and the 3/4 length sleeves, which are very fitted at the shoulders and elbows, would have had lace cuffs that detached for washing. It is lined in tan linen. The silk features meandering garlands and bouquets brocaded in 8 colours onto a sea-green ground. Condition is well-used: the silk has several stains and the underarms are discoloured. Overall, however, the piece is quite intact with no holes or fraying. A rare, very beautiful and highly collectable 18th century textile.
Lots of dresses and outfits including:
V5 Victorian rose-decorated silk and chiffon evening bodice and skirtAn absolutely delightful evening bodice and skirt from about 1895, in pale green, cream and pink silk with rosebud decoration and chiffon pleating. This is a beautiful dress, in unusual candy colours that haven't faded. The material is pale chartreuse green and cream striped silk woven with a design of pink rosebuds. In many places it is overlaid with pale green pleated chiffon and trimmed with chiffon ruffles interspersed with pink and green rosebuds. The bodice is decollete and does up at the back with hooks-and-eyes. It has short, puffed sleeves with longer cuffs of pleated chiffon, and a trellis design of cream silk ribbons front and back. The trained skirt has a ruffle at the bottom of stiffened, accordion pleated cream taffeta overlaid with chiffon. The outfit is not in mint condition; the chiffon has shattered in places, as have parts of the cream silk ribbons that make up the trellis work, and there is a little hole at the bottom front centre of the skirt - but none of these detract from its overall charm. It's wearable, but only with care. Bodice bust: 33". Waist: 25". Skirt waist: 25". Length: 40" with the train 10" longer at the back.
£450
Some of the Victorian jackets and skirts in my cupboard:
V11 Green/blue silk-satin bodice/jacket c.1890I bought this beautiful jacket in Venice but it was made in Paris. The deep aqua silk-satin is vertically pleated at the front, and there are 13 original matching glass buttons down the front. The high collar is trimmed with black and gold rick-rack braiding. The long tight sleeves have puffed shoulders and matching grosgrain ribbons and bows at the cuff. It is all hand-made with 11 interior bones and lined in tan polished cotton. Mint condition and very wearable. Bust: 34" Waist: 26".
£220
V15 Victorian blue/white striped silk skirt £150
c1890 lovely, elegant creamy white fine silk skirt with blue pin stripes. The skirt is full with pleats at centre back and an applied 2" wide ruffle on the lower front.
Fully lined with white polished cotton. One small hole centre back and slight
soiling along hem edge, otherwise excellent condition and wearable.
Waist: 24". Length: 40" with train slightly longer at the back.
Huge choice of whites/lingerie including:
V13 Victorian chemise with fine lace top £100This gorgeous short-sleeved chemise has a deep V-neck front and back with really fine bobbin lacework and the original cream silk ribbon threaded through. Original covered buttons at front and tie to
close waist. Very pretty and wearable. Waist: 22". Bust: 36".
V14 White cotton camisole top £15
Covered buttons and crochet lace trim. Size 8/10. Perfectly clean and wearable.
V16 Cream spotted fine muslin petticoat £110Very beautiful cream pin-striped fine muslin full-length petticoat with embroidered cream dots and a double flounce at the bottom. Fine condition and wearable. Waist: 22". Length: 38" with the train slightly longer at the back.
V18 Graceful, plain white muslin petticoat £100Perfectly simple, graceful white fine muslin long skirt or petticoat. No fastening at waist and a tiny hole at the waist band, otherwise perfect. Waist: 26". Length: 38" with a 10" train at the back.
V19 Creamy petticoat with ruffled hem £95Creamy fine lawn plain petticoat with ruffled hem.
A few areas of faint discolouration.
Waist: 24". Length: 43" all round.
V2 Victorian short sleeveless white lawn camisole/petticoat £80
This pretty sleeveless camisole/petticoat has lace insets and appliques,
and fastens at the front with 6 original buttons, 3 of fabric-covered metal and 3 of mother-of-pearl. It has a deep round neck front and back, which closes with a ribbon threaded through eyelet lace. My tailor’s dummy is too big for
this one – it hangs much better on a real body!
Bust: 34". Waist: 26". Shoulder to waist: 16". Waist to hem: 23"
Miscellanea
V31 Early Victorian c1835 silk and lace tippet £140
This tiny early Victorian tippet is entirely hand made and trimmed with bobbin lace all round. It has 2 layers of cream silk, one printed with tiny flower sprigs and both edged with maroon piping. Excellent condition, especially for such an early item.
V28 Black parasol with wooden handle
Black watered silk parasol with ivory tip and 6" of
fine black fringing all round. Parasol is 30" long overall, but the dark wooden handle folds to 16" with a sliding brass ferrule in the middle.
£85 
V29 Black parasol with ivory handle and blue silk lining
Dainty black silk parasol lined in Fortuny-pleated azure silk. The carved handle and tip are ivory, with a blue and green tassel at the tip. Length is 22" overall, but it folds to 12" with a sliding gilt ferrule in the middle, engraved "Cazad, 27 Boulevard des Italiens, Paris". The silk is split and damaged but this is a beautiful piece.
£85
Awaiting photos:
V50 Aqua velvet long-sleeved bodice with lace trim
V20 3-piece black mourning outfit - jacket, skirt and over-skirt
V45 Early Victorian black satin bodice with short puff sleeves and original back lacing
Sweet black satin bodice with low scoop neck, sort puff sleeves and original back lacing. Great condition. Very small and probably too delicate to wear.
V10 Tiny black velvet bodice with jet beaded net sleeves and lace-up front
This bodice is beautiful but very tiny. It is made of black velvet, fully boned inside, with a very low neck edged in black lace, a tiny medici collar, and spectacular fringed sleeves of netting covered in black glass/jet beads. It laces up the front (original lace missing). Will fit a small size 6 or 8 only but I don't think the sleeves would stand much wear.......
V8 Pale pink silk faille lace-up bodice
V32 Cream silk belt
Delicate cream silk shaped belt.
V43 Cream silk and ivory fan
Large cream silk satin fan with ivory sticks. Excellent condition.
V25 Silk and lace jabot
V47 White cotton and lace princess-style fitted slip £125
Flatteringly cut princess-style fitted full-length petticoat slip with low scoop neck, slight train and back buttons. Size 8/10. Excellent condition and getting very hard to find!
V51 Mocha silk taffeta fitted jacket with cut steel decoration
V23 Cream wool skirt with embroidered hem
Sweet little winter skirt/petticoat of cream felt/wool with cream threadwork embroidery round the hem. Waist: about 26", length: calf-length.
V24 Taupe wool jacket with braiding
Lovely shaped Victorian winter jacket of taupe wool with beige braid trim and original buttons. The lining is very tattered but the exterior is strong and it's very wearable. Size 10.
V42 Teal velvet jacket with lovely original buttons and matching skirt £250
This teal-blue velvet ensemble has an unusual asymmetrical front fastening with 12 matching original paste buttons and a little hidden watch-pocket. It is lined in soft tartan cotton. The matching skirt has decorative tabs at the bottom lined in the same tartan cotton, and no train, since it's a winter outfit. Most unusual and in really good condition.
V54 Mauve silk and cream chiffon/lace bustle reception gown c 1878 - very delicate
V53 Blue and cream silk bustle gown - very delicate
