Material: Linen Cotton Blend & Batiste Ayrshire Lace
Size: Dress, Length ~ 21 & 1/2 inches,
Chest ~ 29 inches,
Back,
shoulder seam /shoulder seam ~ 10 & ½”
Neck ~ apx 12 inches,
Armhole
~ apx. 10 inches,
Sleeve Length ~ 17 inches
Knickers, Waist ~ 27
inches,
Hips ~ 30 inches,
Length ~ 18 & 1/2 inches,
Leg Opening
~ apx. 10 inches
Quantity: 1 Set = 2 pcs.
A very dapper, authentic antique Victorian boy's two piece dress and knickers garment,
c. 1880 - 1890's, complete with pink and white stripes and lovely frilly hand made
lace collar. Just the thought of a boy wearing this outfit made my nine year old
grandson cringe!
Due to the Victorians being generally smaller than we are today it is somewhat difficult
to judge the age of the child who wore this garment, but I estimate apx. 3 - 5 years
old.
I believe the material is a cotton linen blend, with a large fancy collar made from
very fine, almost transparent batiste cotton embroidered with lovely Ayershire whitework
lace and lots of embroidered Broiderie Anglaise button hole stitches. A narrow white
ribbon joins the lace and body of dress. This ribbon is also embroidered with an
abundance of tiny white work stitches and star or flower type designs.
All of the embroidery on both the lace and ribbon appears to be done completely by
hand. Please see our last image below for close up of lace detail. The work is
amazingly fine and is truly as nice on the back as it is on the front. The collar
lace is apx. 3 & 1/2 inches wide. Beginning about waist level in front, the lace
circles the entire shoulders, with a large squared back. Lace and ribbon was applied
by hand, while the rest of the garment appears to be machine stitched. As a side
note; the first functional sewing machines were introduced in the early 1800’s, with
mass production following apx. 1850. The zig-zag machine was patented in the 1870’s.
In the 1880’s sewing machines for the home were sold. The electric machine appeared
in the later part of that decade, quickly gaining popularity and widespread use.
The dress buttons down one side of center panel via small mother of pearl buttons,
which are mirrored on the opposite side, however these are just decorative, not functional.
Hook and eye at neck front. Sash loops each side at waist.
The knickers are so cute. They have button holes at the waist. I believe braces,
(suspenders) which were being used in the 1880's, would attach to the buttonholes.
There is elastic type cord at the leg openings. Inside front is a very small little
panel that flips open to reveal a tiny placket, with the tiniest little opening that
measures apx. 1 & 1/2 inches long. I really do feel sorry for the little guy that
had to use that teeny weensy opening without soiling his knickers!
This Victorian outfit remains in incredibly good antique estate condition. We did
not find a single rip, tear, split, etc. to either dress or knickers. While examining
the lace with a jewelers loupe to confirm that it was indeed handmade I encountered
an apx. 1 inch period repair that is so well done that it had remained undiscovered
through all of my previous examining, handling, washing and ironing. Granted, now
that I am of a certain age my eyes are not what they used to be, but I must surely
have had my glasses on some of the times I handled this piece and I still never discovered
the mend! When the dress is on, this area of the collar would rest at about underarm
level, right front, as you are facing child or mannequin. Due to the fullness and
ruffles this it is extremely difficult to see and I really think you'd have to know
exactly where it is to find it. Remainder of lace is in excellent, strong, distress
free condition.
The outfit was yellowed from storage, so I washed and pressed it and was amazed that
the pink striped fabric still retains very good color. I checked the underside of
the collar to see if the color was more intense there than on the rest of the garment,
which would have indicated fading, but the color is virtually the same. I did find
one pin head size speck remaining, as well as a very small yellowish narrow line
mark that had been hidden in the folds of the right sleeve, other than that the dress
is excellent. The knickers are also very nice, however the little Master apparently
liked to get on his knees in the dirt, because there is a small amount of light,
diffused yellowing right at the leg opening, where the elastic is. This is really
quite minor and light, mostly on one leg edge, with just a hint on the other, however
I overlooked pre-treat this area, so I think a pre-treatment and another soak would
resolve. (both knee & sleeve) The fabric is strong. It looks and feels very good.
Even the garment seams all appear to be very nice, with no thread breakage and/or
seams opening, etc. All buttons and hooks are even all still present.
I can really only identify two things that might bother the perfectionist. One is
that the elastic cord at the knee no longer retains much stretch and could be replaced
if desired. Purists like me would prefer to leave it exactly as it is. Second is
that the ribbon sash is no longer present, but this also could be replaced with an
appropriate coordinating period ribbon, apx 2 & ¼ inches wide.
Overall, we feel this child's dress and knickers set is in exceptionally nice antique
condition and a truly fine example of hard to find Victorian children's fashion.
The large, desirable hand made white work Ayrshire lace collar is truly like icing
on the cake!
