May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
An extremely rare, 18th century, woman's short gown of block-printed linen, an everyday utilitarian garment of the working to middle class, pressure-mounted in frame. An old label, attached to the rear of the frame, is inscribed: "This Garment was called "A Short Gown" was worn with a petticoat. Very early hand-printed Calico--supposed to be of about 1730-1740. Belonged to some one of the Stephen Robbins family of East Lexington, Mass." While the garment's provenance may be correct, the short body (back panel 16 in. L at center, front panels 10 1/4 in. L at breast edge) and full-length sleeves fitted closely at the wrist, would indicate a date range of 1785-1805, rather than earlier. Both sleeves are heavily-pieced and this, coupled with the linen fabric utilized (a polychrome floral pattern, probably English, popular in the 1760s-1780s) suggests that the short gown may have been recut or "cobbled" from an earlier short gown or some other garment. CONDITION: The gown shows evidence of period darning and patching repairs, but it appears to be otherwise in good to very good condition (not examined outside of the frame), the ground of the fabric now an ivory color and the printed floral devices with black (now brown) outline work, leaves and petals colored in green and pinkish red, respectively. JLK
Illustrated and discussed on pp. 102-103 of "For Liberty I Live."