Summary

Bodice of purple silk brocade with small black fleck, overlaid with black machine lace and bands of brown velvet in slashed Tudor style. This has been crudely added with running stitch, suggesting it is a later addition to the purple brocade bodice - perhaps for theatrical or fancy dress purposes.

The bodice is thought to have bene worn around 1890, and would have had a matching skirt. It was probably worn by Minnie Anderson. Mary 'Minnie' Lloyd Anderson was one of five children of renowned architect Lloyd Tayler (1830-1900) and Sarah Toller. She married James Caldwell Anderson; they had a son and three daughters. The family lived at 'Mynda', 5 Molesworth Street, Kew, designed by Lloyd Tayler. She died in 1951, aged 91.

Physical Description

Bodice of purple silk brocade with small black fleck, overlaid with black machine lace and bands of brown velvet in slashed Tudor style, crudely added with running stitch. Finished with black lace frills on upper half of front opening. Fitted bodice, darts each side of waist, front opening 23 glass buttons and worked button holes, high standing neck band fastened with two metal hooks and overstitched metal eyes. Bodice ends in point, front/back. Sleeves close fitting to edge, finished with black lace in cuff shape with three button opening bound in brown velvet. Stitching reveals that black lace flounce at lower edge, now incomplete, went all way round. Fully lined with brown cotton; 11 whalebone stay strips - two bones missing. Interior waist band with two metal hooks and eyes. Seam edges and finishing hand sewn.

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