The Ornamented Being

Tomorrow’s theme is just an excuse to post pictures of pretty dresses. 

1695-1700 Valdemar Slot Gown

“The dress probably belonged to Christine Elizabeth Juel. She was married at Valdemar Castle in 1695, and this gown is said to be her wedding dress. At Valdemar Castle they lived a French inspired court life, and the dress is fashionable continental in style. She was widowed in 1709.

The dress is made of a green silk with intervowen gold threads, and it’s one of the few surviving mantuas in the world today. It consists of a full skirt with a trained “robe” overneath. The robe is pleated in front and back bodice and at the sleeves, and the front skirt is draped towards the back. The draperies are fastened with buttons and loops, as is the sleeve drapes. The stomacher is not the original, but from a contemporary gown. The sleeves are also said to have had “engageants” (laces) at the elbow, but this has probably been an undergown with lace cuffs rather than engageants being attached to the dress. ”