Date: c. 1910s
Origin: Austria
Fabric: Cotton lawn, machine lace
Brand: Custom made
A cotton lawn chemise, hand made by its original owner and believed to be part of her bridal trousseau. It is crafted from a fine cotton lawn that has been intricately machine embroidered with floral and botanical motifs. It is lavishly embellished: Valenciennes lace is insertion appliquéd in bands at the hips, with diamond motifs at the neckline and waist. Tiny pintucks are stitched inside these diamond motifs, as well as extending from the neckline and shoulders. A fine lace trims the neckline and underarms. Machine embroidered ribbon slot trim is applied to the waist, threaded through silk ribbon (a contemporary replacement, as the original ribbon has been lost). The chemise fastens with a row of shell buttons and stitched buttonholes through the front of the bodice.
Kindly donated to The Underpinnings Museum by Liz Denocte
