#2321 $2,300
Romantic period plaid cotton wrapper, c.1830
This superb wrapper is a special find. Fashioned from dainty woven plaid fabric and with exaggerated gigot sleeves, the wrapper is an exemplar of the full blown Romantic style.
The pumpkin-black-ivory color combination is quite fetching. Although the scale of the plaid is diminutive, the textural effect works at a distance. When I first saw the wrapper from across the room, my heart skipped a beat.
The wrapper is completely hand stitched. The bodice is lined with ivory canvas, and the back is decorated with rows of bias-cut self trim. The armholes are piped with narrow self-covered cording. The directness and integrity of the overall design have an enduring charm and resonance.
The wrapper slips over the head and is open from the neckline to the hip area. The grand cape-collar (trimmed with ruffles) accentuates the width of the full gigot sleeves.
When we speak of "Romantic period style," this signifies attractive ornament (large gigot sleeves), i.e., merely decoration. Art historians often use "style" to refer to common qualities in the creations of certain historical periods, as in "Classical style" and "Romantic style."
True style runs deeper than this, referencing a world view. Due to the backlash against female influence in politics during the French Revolution, the sexual dichotomy in dress became more pronounced from the late 1830s onwards. The Romantic period in dress can be seen as the beginning of this 19th century trend.
The condition is excellent. The slight discoloration in a few areas does not spoil the appearance.
It measures: approximately 34" bust and 50" from the shoulder to the hem.
