#2312 $2,500
Battenberg lace trained skirt & jacket, c.1905
The Edwardians left a legacy of romantic, feminine fashion with enduring appeal. With an exceptional lace ensemble, a modern woman can return to a more pleasant and genteel world, if only for a few hours. A memorable Edwardian piece is ideal for a special occasion like a wedding.
This exquisite lace ensemble has high quality construction, a superb lace pattern, and a dramatic cut. It no longer has the original period underpinnings. Although that makes it less suitable for a museum, the ensemble is also less structured and so easier to wear. You will need to add a slip and/or petticoat of your choice.
The ensemble is fashioned from hand-assembled, white cotton Battenberg lace. The shape of the garment is built in during the lace assembly, leaving no unsightly side seams. The linen fibers in the lace have a natural stiffness ideal for holding the shape.
The skirt, quite smooth over the hips, is fuller in back, ending with a graceful train. The bolero-style jacket has three-quarter-length sleeves and is shorter in back. It closes at the neckline with a tiny mother-of-pearl button that mimics the doughnut motifs of the lace. The jacket is open in front below the button.
Battenberg lace garments convey a sense of style, distinction, and natural refinement. Here is an outfit for a woman of taste, ingenuity, and a certain artistry. This eminently wearable ensemble will also appeal to serious collectors because of the large and varied motifs pleasingly arranged.
"Battenberg lace" is a late 19th century term for lace designs made from braided tape. The technique, borrowed from 17th century hand-woven tape laces, again became popular with the introduction of machine made braided tapes.
The condition is excellent. It is clean and ready to wear.
The bolero measures: 38" bust, 16" from shoulder seam to shoulder seam, 18" sleeve
length to the point, and 14 1/2" center-back length.
The skirt measures: 25" waist (room to let out), 42" hip, and 40" center-front length.
