Rare antique mid 18th Century Georgian dress apron Exceptional embroidery

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Rare antique mid 18th Century Georgian dress apron Exceptional embroidery:
$412.19

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Rare antique mid 18th Century Georgian dress apron Exceptional embroidery

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I have only once ever seen silk thread embroidery as fine as this, on an early 18th Century piece.

The embroidery to this dress apron is breathtaking!

The seller said it was made in France. I can well believe it, but have no proof other than his/her word. It would certainly have been embroidered by a Master craftsman and would have been very expensive indeed, back in the mid 18th Century, so probably at the time of George ll.

This is quite a short apron typical of the first half of the century. It has a deeply scalloped edge and, I am sure, is all original, apart from the thread through ties at the top edge, which I think would have been added later.

The embroidery is a mixture of silk thread and couched silver or gold thread [difficult to tell as it is now darkened]. The silk thread colours are still remarkably bright. They must have been blindingly bright when first applied!

So, starting with a huge central bow, we have wonderful flowers worked so closely in satin stitch one wants to stroke them, French knots forming 3-D effect centres and the metal thread providing texture.

The scallops are treated to flower trails all around and tiny loops of couched thread to finish.

We have the absolutely typical Georgian citrine yellow, blues & greens that have never been reproduced since.

Simply fabulous.

CONDITION

This fine piece has been professionally supported with a mesh attached below.

It was clearly once an exhibition piece as it has a label to the underside.

The mesh is holding the silk fabric very well, but the silk is very fragile. There are a series of holes to one side, one of which has punctured through the mesh below. See the photo\'s. One of the holes has damaged a small area of embroidery.

The other side is better, but one can still see splits beginning in some areas.

I think that the damage to the fabric has been caused by a large expanse of subtle staining and darkening to the lower half of the apron. This is why the net layer has been applied, I think.

There are few obvious, dark stains; one I found is so close to a flower it seems to be part of it! Again, see pictures.

So, this extremely old and rare piece demonstrates exquisite 18th Century embroidery which is still in VERY good condition - but the ground on which it has been applied is fragile, darkened and will need great care to preserve.

Picture reference: \'Old English Costumes\' Undated old publication. Harrods & the Victoria & Abbert Museum. Plate 5 - Apron 1750-70.

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