18th Century Fashion

Circa 1792-1794 France Rare black felt Commissaire's bicorn of the first French Republic, at the fall of the Ancien Régime around 1793 (proclamation of the Convention). Hat with its...

Circa 1780/1810 China for Export in Europe/Portugal Large bedspread or hanging in cream satin embroidered with polychrome mercerized silk threads. Large orderly and architecturally ...

Circa 1785 France Beautiful waistcoat of the Louis XVI period in cream taffeta embroidered with polychrome silk threads and silver threads. Straight cut, square, with two flap pocket...

Circa 1770 France - Provence Lady's bodice stay entirely quilted with yellow silk taffeta and Rouenneries dating from the end of the Louis XVI period. Semi-rigid bodice with linen yo...

Circa 1780 Provence Pierrot or Caraco à la Suzanne in reference to The Mariage de Figaro (1778) from a private mansion in Aix en Provence dating from the Louis XVI period. Raspberry ...

Circa 1795-1804 France Directoire or Consulat period A "Simplicité" day dress in basin with mini-train dating from the transition period in fashion between the Directoire Round Gown ...

Circa 1795-1800 France - Marseille A chintz caraco from the Oberkampf Manufactory in Jouy-en-Josas. Woodblock printing on a ramoneur background with flowered pattern called Bonnes He...

Circa 1780 France Elegant waistcoat in cream taffeta embroidered with country bouquets and cannetillé cliquants dating from the Louis XVI period. Square waistcoat without collar comp...

Circa 1780 France French dress in brocaded pekin satin, Watteau pleated coat, pagoda sleeves and basket skirt, possibly for the Court. Cream pekin satin with fluted stripes and broc...

Circa 1790-1800 France A Chemise dress in fibrous cotton muslin and white chain-stitch embroidery of flowery scrolls, made by the East India Companies for export to Europe. This typ...

Circa 1740 France or Europe A Sack back mantle gown in celadon green damask, treated here in à la retroussé style, the bottom of the dress having been cut off. This type of damask with a satin ground and a large cream Indian flower design is rare. Its width is 70cm, which indicates that it is not French, as the loom widths were 50cm. This damask either came from China via the East India Companies (hence the name of Damas des Indes), or from Holland, which wove large widths like the products imported by the VOC (Dutch East India Company). The cut is original and quite early in the 18th century. The two large hollow pleats in the back ‘à la Watteau’ and the two pleats in the front are reminiscent of the cut of the French Regence period Robes volantes. The three-quarter length sleeves have double engagement flounces, underlined by period passementerie crests and echoing the wavy flow of the falbalas at the front. The bodice lining is an original ecru linen (with a few small holes) with a possible modification to the stomach piece which pins in the front. This dress remains a very interesting historical piece with possible 18th century modifications. Unfortunately, the bottom of the coat was cut and sewn on a sewing machine in the 20th century by an unscrupulous seamstress! It is in good condition, with a few rust spots on the skirt. The silk is stable, very resistant and not discoloured. The quilted skirt does not belong to this sale. Size: large for the period, equivalent to a women's size 38 in France. Height 113 cm, shoulders 37 cm, chest 90 cm. I have chosen to present this rare but hybrid piece in the manner of Jean Siméon Chardin (famous French painter 1699-1779), that is to say in the style of a long casaquin, when the dresses of the rich elegant ladies of the 18th century were ‘downgraded’ in the social scale (see the last two photos). It's important to remember that the Robes à la française...

Circa 1760 France Precious embroidered ivory silk satin purse with its original glitter, dating from the end of the Louis XV period. Large square purse to be tightened with two origi...