Lot 42 , A 20th century dress made and repurposed from a 16th - 17th century church vestment, quite possibly a cope

A 20th century dress made and repurposed from a 16th - 17th century church vestment, quite possibly a cope, the dress fabric made from cream silk satin, heavily couched with an intricate raised gold and silver central motif and scrolling floral leafy polychrome outer design, embroidered with red, blue and yellow flowers and green leaves, the cream lace a later addition. The top of the dress possibly from a different garment. After Henry VIII’s Reformation of the Church, many of these vestments and luxurious religious fabrics were repurposed as garments by aristocratic families and Royalty for important ceremonial occasions. The present owners bought a large 16th century coffer in the 1970’s, in which this dress was carefully wrapped, they then had it professionally framed by Alpha and Omega in Sussex and hung it in a their home away from direct sunlight, dress 53cm wide (skirt at widest point), 86cm centre top to bottom of dress
£2,000-4,000

Unsold