Help with Victorian nightgown

This is my little departure from the (mostly) 60s...

I need some help, because while it LOOKS like one, I do not know what elements to look for to authenticate age. Since it was from a very old estate the time frame and it was listed as a victorian nightgown, I am assuming... but thought i would trot it out for the experts.

let me know what details you need to see closer on....if at all.

Sorry about the quick and shoddy pics...the camera had to go run some errands today so I had to act quick before it left the house : )

<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/victorian2.JPG" width=504 height=340>

<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/DSC03297.JPG" width=360 height=599>

It is very crisp. However, there is one spot of discoloration on it. Should i try and clean it or should I leave it alone?


Thanks in advance,

Chris

 

Very pretty but I know nothing about this era. I am sure someone will come along in a sec to help.

Since I usually mess up everything I try to wash or clean, I would say NO on treating the spot.

 

Nightgowns can be sometimes hard to pin down to an exact year as they tended to be very sturdy made and worn over a long time. Without actually being able to examine it myself, I'd say it was probably in the late 1890's- turn of the century period (very late Victorian- early Edwardian).
BUT please examine the seams though as Victorian style companies like Past Times and Laura Ashely, etc, make convincing repro nightgowns and have seen such labeled as "antique" at antique centers and fairs. Antique nightgowns can have machine stitching. Some antique gowns just have machine stitching, some have hand and machine stitching and some have just hand sewing. I currently have a late 1860's nighty with lots of machine sewing but have also come across 1910's ones completely handmade so stitching is not always a guarantee of age.
I'm almost certain that yours isn't a repro, the sleeve pleating and details look too fine to be a new one. Modern "antique" nightgowns often have nylon or poly threa which looks WAY more shiny and new than old thread and often has the seams being machine overcast (I think that is the correct word) whch antique nightgowns never had.
It's hard to explain but also modern nightgowns tend to have a "modern" sleeve placement. I know this doesn't make sense but after seeing tons of antique gowns and then the modern Victorian-style ones, you'll see what I mean. It just doesn't "look" right to an eye used to looking at original ones.

For medium to heavy weight nightgowns with not much emmroidery or details that would get snagged, I usually toss them in the washing machine with mild detergent and bleach (I've had some really moudly ones come out sparkling white!). For the finer cotton ones or ones that have alot of intricate detail, I'll hand wash them in the same detergent and bleach. Measure out your bleach carefully, don't use too much but an amount appropriate to the amount of water being used. Then I used to put them in the dryer but they came out too wrinkly and were hell to iron so now we have a outside clothesline and they come in "spring time fresh" Then iron as usual!

Lei

 

Thanks so much! Yes, i agree, the details are way too fine, and know what you mean by modern sleeve placements. this is machine stitched from what i examined. No, no nylon/poly here, all nice crisp cotton and it doesn't appear to be fragile in any way at all, which is real nice. The buttons are fastened really sturdily.....really tied down compared to modern flimsy stitching...

Scan of cuff coming right up...

 

<img src="http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/patentleathershoes/nightgown.jpg" width=540 height=450>

 

the pleating really didn't show up in the scan so good..but it is very intricate..any bigger and the pic would have crashed too many computers : )

 

Well Chris would you like an entry into the lingerie resource?


Lei may I quote you?

Oh and that is lovely!

 

Really? You mean I actually have something for it???

I will take some better pics as these were just quickies... tomorrow..when the sun comes back up of course..

 

Hurry I wanna see! The new pics!

 

>Lei may I quote you?

Sure, go ahead!

I wanna see new photos too!

Lei

 

Pure white - it may take a few tries to get it right, but i a game...

I know photo-ing pure white with details can be a bear. we used to add just a touch of dye in the theater so the white wouldn't "glow" but it would still read to your eye as white. that is not an option in this case!