Designed to compliment a set of period Bohemian garnets (necklace and pin shown below), this gown is made from burgundy embroidered silk taffeta. Various types of “figured” silks were common in the 19th century; these silks had woven patterns in them and are difficult to find now. The embroidered taffeta is an approximation of figured silk. The bodice is trimmed with a ruffled bertha collar, trimmed with antique gold metal thread lace (French) and antique gold and burgundy chenille braid. The shoulders are trimmed with handmade self fabric roses with green velvet leaves. The back laces closed. The neckline has a tucker made of off white cotton net (difficult to see as the net is the same color as the dress form).

This is not a typical dress of the period – it was designed for a Civil War Christmas stage presentation.  However the original from which I drew inspiration is here.

I had enough fabric leftover to make a nice evening bodice with a square neckline (hopefully will photograph soon).