1911 Wedding & Reception Ensemble by Reville & Rossiter, Hanover Square, London

Lady Gillman Provenance - Original Box - Wedding Shoes by Hook, Knowles & Co.

An exceptional and highly important wedding ensemble dating to 1911, comprising an elegant reception gown by the celebrated London couture house Reville & Rossiter, together with the matching wedding shoes, gloves, stockings and original Reville & Rossiter presentation box.

A handwritten note preserved with the ensemble reads:

"Dress I wore to reception Claridge's on our wedding day, 8th February 1911."

The ensemble is accompanied by the provenance of Lady Gillman, providing a rare and intimate connection to an identified Edwardian bride and her wedding celebrations at the famous Claridge's Hotel, London.

Reville & Rossiter – Court Dressmakers to Queen Mary

Founded in 1906 by designer William Reville and his business partner Miss Rossiter, Reville & Rossiter rapidly became one of London's most exclusive couture houses. Operating from prestigious Hanover Square, the firm catered to aristocratic and royal clientele and earned a Royal Warrant as Court Dressmakers to Queen Mary in 1910.

Their reputation was firmly established when, in 1911, they designed Queen Mary's Coronation Robe and Coronation Dress for the coronation of King George V. Following this appointment, Reville & Rossiter became one of the most sought-after names in British high society, renowned for their luxurious craftsmanship, refined silhouettes and exquisite handwork. Surviving examples today are held in important museum collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Collection Trust.

The present gown was created during the firm's most celebrated period and represents the height of Edwardian luxury dressmaking.

The Reception Gown

Crafted from sumptuous cream satin silk, the gown features an elegant woven scrolling shamrock design, a motif particularly fashionable in the years surrounding the coronation era. The dress is lavishly decorated with a variety of delicate laces, faux pearls and sparkling paste stones.

The bodice retains its original internal structure with boning and the original Reville & Rossiter label. The back is beautifully draped and gathered, extending into a trained skirt weighted at the hem to ensure graceful movement and elegant presentation.

Its refined silhouette perfectly embodies the transition from the late Edwardian period toward the emerging fashions of the early 1910s.

Included in the Lot

• Reception gown by Reville & Rossiter, Hanover Square, London
• Original Reville & Rossiter presentation/storage box
• Pair of wedding shoes by Hook, Knowles & Co., Makers to the Royal Family, New Bond Street, London
  
• Original stockings
• Undergarment / petticoat by Reville & Rossiter

The survival of an almost complete wedding ensemble together with its original box and documented provenance is exceptionally rare.

Wedding Shoes by Hook, Knowles & Co.

The accompanying bridal shoes are crafted from fine ivory silk and embellished with glass bugle beads, sequins and decorative bows. They retain their original gilt-printed maker's label:

"HOOK, KNOWLES & CO LTD / MAKERS TO THE ROYAL FAMILY / 66 & 65 NEW BOND ST / LONDON"

Hook, Knowles & Co. ranked among London's most prestigious shoemakers and held the distinction of supplying footwear to members of the Royal Family. Surviving examples of their work are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, confirming the firm's importance within the luxury footwear trade of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

Condition

Dress

Exterior: Very good overall condition for age. The silk remains remarkably strong and attractive with only a few minor age-related discolorations.

Interior: Typical wear to the silk foundation fabric and lining, particularly within the bodice. Some deterioration is present to the silk underskirt and internal silk components. Original construction remains intact and stable.

Shoes

Overall very good condition. Silk remains stable and the beadwork appears complete. Minor age-related wear consistent with careful use and long-term storage.

Accessories

Stockings, petticoat and original box show expected signs of age and storage.

Historical Significance

This remarkable ensemble combines three highly desirable factors for collectors and museums:

• An identified wearer (Lady Gillman)
• Direct wedding-day provenance with documented use at Claridge's, London
• Garments produced by two Royal Warrant holders, Reville & Rossiter and Hook, Knowles & Co.

As a nearly complete Edwardian wedding ensemble preserved with its original accessories and original couture box, it represents an extraordinarily rare survival of British aristocratic dress from the coronation year of 1911.

Without shoe trees.