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Costume |
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Costume Collection
There are over 2,500 items of costume, which includes accessories, in the collection. Mainly Bedford residents have donated the majority of the costume collection, over the past fifty years. The largest category is that of women’s clothing from 1840 to 1930, which is very well represented by examples of fashionable attire worn by the middle-classes.
The Gallery continues to add to the collection via donations, and we are particularly interested in fashionable garments from the eighteenth centuries and late 1950s to 1970s and men’s costume from the eighteenth century to 1979.
| B.M.T. ( C ) 1262 | SILK DRESS 1740-1750 | Mustard yellow with floral brocade design in various colours. Décolletage wide, elbow length sleeves. Fitted bodice, open at front, with stomacher. Full skirt. Bodice and skirt let out at later date at right front. | Has image |
| B.M.T. ( C ) 1225 | DAY DRESS c.1848-50 | Printed
in silk, lilac pink and white in narrow horizontal stripes, lined
throughout with glazed cotton. Fan shaped bodice pleated into the
shoulders, gathered into point at centre waist.
Fairly high plain round neck. Centre back hook/eye fastening. Piped seam at waist. Skirt, slight train, set on bodice in pleats. 2 pockets concealed at centre front. Woollen braid at hem. Bell-shaped three-quarter sleeves (layered) with 6 rows blue/yellow silk fringe. |
Has image |
| B.M.T. ( C ) 898 | EVENING DRESS c.1900 | Two-piece, black satin lined taffeta and interlined chiffon; skirt with train fastening at the back trimmed narrow bands of lace and net decorated with beads and sequins forming a chequered design at back and striped effect in the front; lower part of skirt and train trimmed narrow lace frills on flowers and spotted net and diamond-shaped panels of net with narrow bands of velvet. Bodice fastened at front similarly trimmed and decorated, low neck with bertha of flowered and spotted net; elbow length sleeves with open vandyke fall off the same net. | Has image |
| B.M.T. ( C ) 47 c.1890 | EVENING DRESS | Dark
green satin & embossed velvet, 2 pieces.
(a) Bodice, embossed velvet. Fitting, with deep vandycks all round from waist to hips. Lined and boned. Medium décolletage with lace inset. Trimmed appliqué gilt threads embroidery & ball tassels. Short sleeves. Front closure by buttons and two hooks. (b) Skirt, green satin with front panel of embossed velvet, showing pleated beneath athem, & trimmed ball tassels. Gored & pleated with fullness behind & trained. Lined. |
Has image |
| B.M.T. ( C ) 48 | DAY DRESS c.1856/7 | Blue
& ivory brocade with twill weave, 1 piece.
(a) Bodice boned & lined, with front closure by hooks & eyes. Trimmed ruched ribbon & lace 4 bows down front. Pagoda sleeves lined silk & trimmed ribbon & lace. (b) Skirt very full, pleated into waist, lined stiff muslin. Watch pocket. Long ribbon sash back waist. |
Has image |
| B.M.T. ( C ) 1384 | FANCIFUL DRESS c.1924 | Liberty`s-
from their range of dresses called ‘fanciful styles’.
Made in the "Henrietta Maria" style. Long skirt with high waist. Bodice has false panels fastened round the waist, and a white pleated panel set in the front with false lacing attached, to give the impression of a separate bodice worn over a white chemise. Short puffed sleeves with lace frills. Deep collar of cream silk crepe edged with lace. Made from brown velvet lined with silk. Lace throughout is hand-made. |
Has image |
| B.M.T. ( C ) 1008 | PRESENTATION GOWN c.1780-90 | Pink
silk taffeta with floral brocade design in coloured silk. Psendo-quilted
panel down front, double frill at hem, and sash, all in maroon silk.
(Edwardian additions)
Flounce of Lille of Buckinghamshire point ground pillow lace borders front panel of gown. Machine made lace added later to sleeves and neck. |
Has image |
| T.R.16 (T.77) | LADY’S DRESS 1868-70 | Cream satin lady’s dress, embroidered with flowers in chenille work. A Victorian copy of an eighteenth century sac-back, although heavily altered. | Has image |
| B.M.T. (C) 1136 a,b, | EVENING GOWN c.1875 | 3 piece gown, grey silk, skirt and bodice with a purple velvet trim. | Has image |
| B.M.T. (C) 388 | EVENING DRESS C.1820-1822 | Evening dress red muslin. | Has image |
| D.147 | DAY DRESS c.1851-7 | Blue silk, two flounces. A disposition of alternate panels; blue, and blue and cream striped and spotted. Pagoda sleeves, applied braid trimmings, coloured as for flounces; bobbles and tassels. Front waistband gathered slightly to a point; small metal buttons. Lined cotton with some silk in sleeves. Applied collar? Lace fichu or bertha missing. | Has image |
| B.M.T. (C.)1140 | GOWN c. 1840’s | Brown shot silk with brown frogging braid around neck, shoulders, cuffs and on belt. Lace inside high neck, self covered buttons, tiny holes in rows around waistline-may have been altered. | Has image |
If you have an enquiry, require identification or indeed have something you wish to donate, the Gallery can be contacted at chag@bedford.gov.uk
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