Antique Victorian Ball Dress Gown 1894 by Court Dressmaker SARAH FULLERTON XS

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Antique Victorian Ball Dress Gown 1894 by Court Dressmaker SARAH FULLERTON XS:
$154.72

For Your Consideration

A Lovely Antique Late Victorian Brocaded Satin Ball Gown or Evening Dress dated to around 1894 - Size XS - With Alterations and Repairs

By Renowned Mayfair Court Dressmaker Sarah Fullerton Monteith Young, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, London

Description

This two-part ball or evening gown has a typical 1890s construction and silhouette with a highly tailored skirt and bodice, a wasp waist and large puffed sleeves (please refer to the fashion plates below showing similar gowns dating to 1893-1895 - this also shows the correct silhouette). The gown was made by the renowned Mayfair court dressmaker Sarah Fullerton Monteith Young who made gowns at her Mount Street address between 1876 and 1907. The gown is very well-made, as is to be expected, but sadly has alterations and many repairs.
The gown is made of the most beautiful brocaded duckegg blue satin with a sumptuous mauve and pink floral pattern. The fabric alone must have cost a fortune! The sleeves are made of matching mauve coloured satin, as is the large mock collar.
The bodice is tightly fitting and has a low neckline (this has been lowered still in the more recent past). It is lined with cream coloured silk. The sleeves are lined with cotton (one side has been replaced I think - the cotton looks different). The cream coloured chiffon sleeve cuffs are later additions (more recent and quite untidy -I recommend removing them, as the gown would have been worn with long evening gloves). The bodice is fully boned and bears the dressmakers label on the internal waistband. It closes on the back with eyelets and lacing (the laces are a modern replacement).
The heavy and voluminous skirt is not lined, but the hemline has a strip of cream coloured satin attached to it to protect it and this is covered with a length of machine-made? Valenciennes lace. It is gathered on the back and has a 15\" long train. The skirt closes on the back with hooks and eyes.
The dress is machine and hand sewn.The dress has been altered somewhat. The back of the bodice has two extra panels inserted along the original opening to enlarge the size. The waistband of the skirt was also enlarged for a larger fit. The neckline of the bodice has been lowered (quite clumsily, if I might add). I suspect that the gown was used in theatre productions.The dress is designed to be worn over several petticoats and and a small bustle pad. The dress is probably a modern size UK 6-8 (EU 32-36, US 2-4)(please check the measurements to be certain of the size - this gown has a wasp waist!) and its measurements are as follows (measured when lying flat):Length of bodice: 15\" (shoulder to waist)Bust: ca. 16\" (ca. 32\" all around) Waist: 11.5\" (ca. 23\" all around) Width at shoulder: 13\" Length of sleeves: 10.5\" (without the chiffon cuffs) Length of skirt: 37\" (front); 52\" (back)Waist: 10.5\" (ca. 21\" all around)

Width at hem: 65\" (130\" all around) The dress is in fair to poor condition and can only be used for study and/or display. Whilst the bodice is structurally sound with alterations (I found 3 broken bones though), the skirt has numerous areas of modern repairs on larger tears, including patches (pretty much throughout)(see photos). The skirt has also been backed with a net to preserve it. It still has many small tears (see photos). The waistband inside the bodice (that bears the label has been extended on one side and has torn off the other). The waistband of the skirt is extremely worn.
The dress is in reasonably clean condition for its age, but the sleeves have scatters of faint brown age stains and organic stains (see last photos).

Postage

This dress weighs just under 1.2kg! Packaging and postage WITH INSURANCE AND TRACKING:- to the UK via Airmail will cost £13.20.- within Europe via Airmail £13.20 (17,00 Euro)- overseas via Airmail £18.00 (ca. US$26.00). I will gladly combine items for shipping (but I require payment before items can be held back for combined shipping). I always refund excess shipping costs.

Payment

I accept PayPal and International bank transfer, but preferably in Euro. Please await my invoice before making a payment.

Terms & Conditions

Payment is to be made within 3 days of the sale. All sales are final! I will not issue refunds or accept returns because a buyer claims not to have read/understood the description! I go to great lengths to describe my items in as much detail as possible/necessary to give the buyer an idea of the condition. It is the buyers responsibility to read the description, view the images and ask questions BEFORE the sale ends! Speaking a foreign language is not accepted as an excuse! I speak several European languages, so please feel free to ask questions in your language.
Please remember that your offer is a contract. will be notified about non-paying buyers and they will be blocked from offerding on any of my future items.
Please note that all items above £20 will be sent via Registered Mail. Returns are only accepted in cases where the item was found to be grossly misrepresented. Items must be returned within 3 days of receipt. Please, do not hesitate to email me with any questions or for more photos.

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