Court dress worn by Mrs. Ann Fanshawe: 18th century

Court dress traditionally thought to have been worn by Mrs. Ann Fanshawe when her father, Crisp Gascoyne, was Lord Mayor of London in 1752-53; consisting of a bodice with a short skirt, stomacher and petticoat, this dress is made from a Spitalfields woven white silk, brocaded with alternating motifs of silver cornucopia from which spill polychrome flowers, barley and hops, and silver merchant’s packs, the ground is covered with silver strip. The bodice is open at the front with robings cuffs and sleeve ruffles enriched with silver lace. The stomacher is trimmed with the same lace, alternating with cream, yellow, green and mauve ribbon shells. The skirt is cut very wide at the side hoops.