The original owner of this magnificent gown, on display at the Museum of London, is Ann Fanshawe, the daughter of the then elected Mayor of London (we're going back to 1753 here), Crisp Gascoyne.
The dress design is a 'mantua'. The mantua gown first appeared in England around the 1670s, and it's name either derives from the French word for coat, manteau, or from Mantua, the Italian town at the time which produced the most lavish & expensive silks.
A view up close of the dress shows the fine and dedicated detail to the working of this silk, it's an absolutely stunning piece of craftsmanship.
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