Back to that Basket....

c1750 Silk Satin Christening Gown 1123.2020.15

 There are just a few things left in the basket now...not gonna lie, I may have saved the last 'few' things for last, as they are the most exciting! This is a typical cream silk satin christening gown of the period...I say typical, because I have several in the collection here, and have studied several in other collections, and they are all made from similar cream silk satin, with nearly the same louped fancy gimp fringe and fly braids.  The arrangements of the trim may be different, the cut of the gown bodice a little different...but for the most part, elements made from are the same. I wonder if the fabric itself was billed as satin specifically for these gowns?
This one is beautiful~ with a nice full skirt~ 86" at the hem.  Its always fun to study the different gown openings...some have an open front, some are back closing....I have seen both front and back stitched closed so the gown was slipped on over the head of it's wearer.  Agrees in this hasty picture, it is hard to see, the the gown has a partial open back, with a partially attached front apron.

  This shows the top (waistband )of the front apron~ to the right in the picture. This is a fully separate piece from the gown, and a lot of times they are missing, leaving a shell that resembles an open robe. Instead of having a full petticoat on the child, this apron is used as a filler, and in this case, the edges of it have been hastily tacked to the edges of the gown front.  There are no ties on the waistband, it would have been pin'd to baby's under clothes.

 The front of the bodice is expertly pleated to shape, with wide cuffed stitched on sleeves (some gowns just had shoulder straps the sleeves were tied onto)

 We know the center front was not stitched up later, because of the neck binding that runs over the center front seam.

 Such tiny stitches...tiny tiny tiny.  Imagine, no electric light...no magnification available.  It's no wonder the sewing table's favorite spot was next to a large window.

 Apron top

 A wonderful arrangement of the trim to the front, with additions of grouping of knotted silk fly fringe, along with 'danglies' that I adore.

 These little drops are only attached at the very top, so they dance around merrily when the gown is moved

 It's all party in the front on this gown~ the back is all business. A nice smooth gown, void of trim that would get hung up on Mamma's gown. Also very frugal and practical~ why pay for trim that would never be seen?

A close view of the back shows the pleating echoes that of the front.  There are four sets of silk tape ties for a back closure.

One of the ties has pulled loose, and is held in place with a straight pin...from our cushion no doubt.
I hope thee has not grown tired of our basket exploration yet...the best is still yet to come!