Antique-Gown

Romantic Period Ball Gown, Lady Jane Erskine, ca. 1837

 
Antique satin evening or ball gown, ca. 1837. Wearer: Lady Jane Erskine. Blue/green-grey satin with a pattern of floral sprays and vines having short sleeve with furbelows and lace trim, wide boatneck with blonde lace bertha and deep waist point with three rows of piping, self rose at back closure, semi-boned bodice lined in cotton, full skirt with gauged gathers and two deep gauze flounces set in furbelows, lined in stiffened gauze. Very good condition with a few flaws: Bertha detached, faint brown stain on bodice, very faint underarm stains and small spot on bodice, few brown spots on the back, flounces have few small spots and holes, lower flounce torn away from satin band at hem. The decoration is not included. Very rare to find.

Provenance: Helen Larson Collection. Helen Larson was a collector based in Whittier, California. She owned a successful film costume rental business and amassed a world-renowned private collection of historic fashion. She was a brilliant connoisseur and historian. Purchased from Doris Langley Moore in 1963.

Lady Jane was born in 1818 in London. She was one of seven daughters of David Montagu, Baron of Erskine, all of which were famous for their beauty. The Baron was a British envoy in Munich.Jane married in 1837 Henry James Callander, Esquire of Craig Forth. She moved with him to Scotland. Lady Jane died 1846. A portrait from her is part of the "Beauties collection". The collection 38 female portraits from different levels and nationalities were painted for King Ludwig I of Bavaria after life painted by the court painter Joseph Stieler.

Bust: ~ 80 cm
Waist: ~ 58 cm
Length: ~ 137 cm