Gryffon Discontinuities

spacer Discontinuities : Ireland 2003 : London: Victoria and Albert Museum : Photo 3  
   
London: Victoria and Albert Museum
art
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London: Victoria and Albert Museum 3

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Saturday, 6-September-2003 10:22 AM GMT

The plackard reads,

AFTERNOON DRESS.
English; 1880.
Satin trimmed with chenille and beads.
At the end of the 1870s the line had become noticeably slimmer and the skirt was held with inner tapes. It is said to have been worn by the mother of the donor on her wedding day and purchased in Bond Street.
Given by Mrs A Nicholls
T.113-1964.

CAP of machine-made lace.
English (Elise); c. 1880.
Given by Mrs H E Talbot.
T. 286-1977.

BROOCH.
Swiss, mounted in Paris; about 1890s.
Hairwork made by Emma Stüder, the aunt of the donor, using hair from members of the family and mounted in gold.
Given by Miss Emily Gretchen Studer.
M.362-1977.

You might be wondering why I would try to take this picture. The gallery was rather dark, and the glass reflective as you can see. On top of that, everything was yellowed out substantially. No good color balance at all, and in the end the dress looks drab and Victorian and it did not look that way in person.

Then you have to understand that the 1880s was the time frame for a lot of interesting things in literature. The period was around the time that the Theatre de Vampires burned to the ground. A little too early for the bohemiam avante garde. And yet it was also reminiscent of Dicken's Faire.

You see, I like building historically accurate outfits. I have been interested in costuming for many years now, and have invested far too many hours costuming in general. Making chainmail, tatting lace, quilting, hand sewing all visible seams... except for obnoxiously long hems. My costuming efforts are not constrained to historical costuming, and if I had more room at home to set up the sewing machine and had a good cutting floor, who knows how I would be spending my hours.

Though I rather dislike hoop skirts and bustles. And I do not miss having to wear three layers on a hut summer afternoon, or pairs of wool skirts.

So this picture was taken with loved ones and hobbies in mind, not for any success with the picture itself.

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